pal
UK[pæl]US[pæl]
n
A close friend.
v
To become friends; to spend time with a friend.
Etymology
The word 'pal' entered English in the 17th century from Romani, the language of the Roma people, where it meant 'brother' or 'mate'. Its journey traces back through Prakrit and ultimately to the Sanskrit 'bhrā́tṛ', sharing a common Proto-Indo-European ancestor with the English word 'brother' itself. Initially used in a colloquial or underworld context, 'pal' gradually shed its slang connotations to become a standard, informal term for a close friend. This evolution from a term for familial relation to one for chosen companionship mirrors a common semantic pathway in the development of kinship terms.
Analysis
The word 'pal' is a simplex word. It is a loanword, entering English from Romani, where 'pal' meant 'brother, comrade'. Its ultimate origin is likely the Sanskrit word 'bhrā́tṛ', meaning 'brother', via Prakrit and other Indo-Aryan languages.
Examples
He's been my best pal since we were in kindergarten.
They palled around together all through college.
I'm meeting a few old pals for lunch.