Pallet
/ˈpæl.ɪt/noun
A flat transport platform used for stacking and moving goods, or a small, hard bed.
Did you know?*Pallet* comes from a diminutive of Latin *pallium* (“cloak”), the same ancient root behind *pall* and *palliate*—a reminder that words can shift from covering bodies to carrying cargo.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
pallium
“A cloak or mantle.”
Late Latin
Latin
palletta
“A small cushion or bed; a little pallet.”
Old French
Old French
palete
“A small bed, couch, or cushion.”
Middle English
English
pallet
“A small bed or mattress; later, a wooden platform.”
Modern English
English
pallet
“A flat platform for lifting and stacking goods, or a small bed.”