pall
1 of 2noun/pɔl/
Forms:palls
1
a hanging piece of cloth used as a covering or screen, especially for a window or doorway
- Heavy palls blocked the sunlight from entering the old room.
- The theater used thick velvet palls to darken the stage.
- The palace windows were covered with embroidered palls.
- She drew the pall aside to let in the morning light.
- The dusty pall swayed slightly in the summer breeze.
2
a cloth used to cover a coffin or the body of a deceased person
- The coffin was covered with a black pall during the funeral.
- Soldiers folded the national flag that had served as the pall.
- A white pall was laid over the casket in the chapel.
- The family lifted the pall before the burial began.
- The priest placed the ceremonial pall over the coffin.
3
a heavy, gloomy, or oppressive atmosphere
- A pall of silence fell over the crowd after the announcement.
- The tragedy cast a pall over the entire town.
- A pall of fear spread through the camp as night approached.
- News of the disaster laid a pall on the celebration.
- The dark sky and quiet streets added to the pall of despair.
Synonyms: