pallet

1 of 2

noun (1)

pal·​let ˈpa-lət 

1

: a straw-filled tick or mattress

2

: a small, hard, or temporary bed

pallet

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

: a wooden flat-bladed instrument

2

: a lever or surface in a timepiece that receives an impulse from the escapement wheel and imparts motion to a balance or pendulum

3

: a portable platform for handling, storing, or moving materials and packages (as in warehouses, factories, or vehicles)

Examples of pallet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The downtown fire broke out on a chilly morning at one of the airspace Caltrans properties, where piles of wooden pallets fueled flames that raged under the freeway viaduct for hours. —Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2024

The city expects to have 100 pallets of water delivered later this evening to disperse to those in need. —Riley Hoffman, ABC News, 1 June 2024

Two missing pallets were recovered earlier this year. —Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 31 May 2024

At a time when brick-and-mortar retailers are desperate to lure shoppers, Costco boasts 128 million members worldwide—each paying at least $60 a year for the privilege of visiting the palace of pallets. —Phil Wahba, Fortune, 28 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English paillet, from Anglo-French paillete bundle of straw, from paille straw, from Latin palea chaff, straw; akin to Sanskrit palāva chaff

Noun (2)

Middle French palette, literally, small shovel — more at palette

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pallet

noun

pal·​let

ˈpal-ət

1

: a straw-filled mattress

2

: a small, hard, or temporary bed