paling

Everyday

1. A pointed wooden stake that is part of a fence. tree →
2. A fence made of such stakes (palings). tree →
3. «Paling» is also the -ing form of «to pale», to become pale or less bright. tree →

In the lessons

In older stories and The Wind in the Willows, fences of palings surround gardens and fields. In Australia, a «paling fence» is a common wooden garden fence.

Examples

• The cat climbed over the palings. tree →
• (Australia) Dad fixed the paling fence. tree →
• Her face was paling with fear. tree →
• The sky was paling as dawn came. tree →
• The Mole squeezed through a gap in the palings. tree →
• A paling had fallen in the storm. tree →
• Fresh and fragrant roses hung over the little palings. tree →

Note

From «pale» (a stake). Also the phrase «beyond the pale» (outside the limits of what is acceptable).