n. [ F. palette: af. It. paletta; prop. and orig., a fire shovel, dim. of L. pala a shovel, spade. See Peel a shovel. ] 1. (Paint.) Same as Palette. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (Pottery) (a) A wooden implement used by potters, crucible makers, etc., for forming, beating, and rounding their works. It is oval, round, and of other forms. (b) A potter's wheel. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. (Gilding) (a) An instrument used to take up gold leaf from the pillow, and to apply it. (b) A tool for gilding the backs of books over the bands. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. (Brickmaking) A board on which a newly molded brick is conveyed to the hack. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. (Mach.) (a) A click or pawl for driving a ratchet wheel. (b) One of the series of disks or pistons in the chain pump. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. (Horology) One of the pieces or levers connected with the pendulum of a clock, or the balance of a watch, which receive the immediate impulse of the scape-wheel, or balance wheel. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. (Mus.) In the organ, a valve between the wind chest and the mouth of a pipe or row of pipes. [ 1913 Webster ] 8. (Zool.) One of a pair of shelly plates that protect the siphon tubes of certain bivalves, as the Teredo. See Illust. of Teredo. [ 1913 Webster ] 9. A cup containing three ounces, -- formerly used by surgeons. [ 1913 Webster ] 10. A low movable platform used for temporary storage of objects so that they can be conveniently moved; it is commonly made of wooden boards, about 4 inches high, and typically has openings in the side into which the blades of a fork-lift truck may be inserted so as to lift and move the pallet and the objects on it. [ PJC ] |