Online Etymology Dictionary

pallid: "lacking color," 1590, from L. pallidus "pale," from root of pallere "be pale" (see pallor).
pallor: c.1400, from O.Fr. palor "paleness," from L. pallor, from pallere "be pale," related to pallus "dark-colored, dusky," from PIE base *pel- "dark-colored, gray" (cf. Skt. palitah "gray," panduh "whitish, pale," Gk. pelios "livid," polios "gray," O.E. fealo "dull-colored, yellow, brown").
palm (1): "flat of the hand," c.1300, from O.Fr. palme, from L. palma "palm of the hand," from PIE *pela- "to spread out, flat" (cf. Gk. palame "open hand," O.Ir. lam, Welsh llaw O.E. folm, O.H.G. folma "hand," Skt. panih "hand, hoof"). To palm (something) off is from 1822; earlier simply to palm "impose (something) on (someone)" (1679). Palm oil is earlier in the punning sense of "bribe" (c.1627) than in the literal sense of "oil from the fruit of the W.African palm" (1705, from palm (2)).
palm (2): "tropical tree," O.E. palma, O.Fr. palme, both from L. palma "palm tree," originally "palm of the hand;" the tree so called from the shape of its leaves, like fingers of a hand (see palm (1)). The word traveled early to northern Europe, where the tree does not grow, via Christianity (e.g. O.E. palm-sunnandæg "Palm Sunday"). In ancient times, a leaf or frond was carried or worn as a symbol of victory or triumph, or on feast days; hence fig. use of palm for "victory, triumph" (c.1386), and adj. palmy "triumphant" (1602). Palm court "large room in a hotel, etc., usually decorated with potted palms" first recorded 1908. Palmer "pilgrim who has returned from the Holy Land" (1176, as a surname) is from Anglo-Fr. palmer (O.Fr. palmier), from M.L. palmarius, from L. palma "palm tree." So called because they wore palm branches in commemoration of the journey.
palmetto: 1583, from Sp. palmito "dwarf fan palm tree," dim. of palma "palm tree," from L. palma (see palm (2)). The suffix was subsequently Italianized. The Palmetto Flag was an emblem of South Carolina after secession (1860); S.C. called Palmetto State from at least 1837.
palmistry: "divination from the palm of the hand," c.1420, from palme (see palm (1)) + obscure second element, perhaps -estre (as in M.E. webbestre "weaver") or -rie (as in M.E. archerie "archery").
palomino: 1914, from Amer.Sp. palomino "cream-colored horse," from Sp., lit. "young dove," perhaps from It. palombino "dove-colored," from L. palumbinus "of wood pigeons," from palumba "wood pigeon." The horse so called because of its dove-like coloring, light brown or cream with a pale mane and tail.
palooka: "mediocre prizefighter," 1925, of unknown origin, credited to U.S. sportswriter and humorist Jack Conway. Non-boxing sense of "average person" is from Joe Palooka, hero of Ham Fisher's comic strip.
palpable: late 14c., "that can be touched," from L.L. palpabilis "that may be touched or felt," from L. palpare "touch gently, stroke" (see feel (v.)). Figurative sense of "easily perceived, evident" is from 1540s.
palpitation: 1483, from M.Fr. palpitation, from L. palpitationem (nom. palpitatio), from palpitare "to throb, to flutter," freq. of palpare "touch gently, stroke" (see feel (v.)). Verb palpitate is first recorded 1623.
palsgrave: 1548, "a count palatine," from M.Du. palsgrave, from pals "palace" (from L. palatium, see palace) + grave (Du. graaf) "count." Cf. cognate M.H.G. pfalzgrave, Ger. Pfalzgraf.
palsy: "disease causing paralysis," late 13c., palesie, from Anglo-Fr. parlesie, O.Fr. paralisie, from L. paralysis (see paralysis).
paltry (adj.): 1570, probably adj. use of noun paltry "worthless thing" (1556), associated with dial. palt, pelt "trash," cognate with M.L.G. and E.Fris. palte "rag," M.Du. palt "broken or torn fragment." Cf. Low Ger. paltrig "rubbishy," E.Fris. palterig "ragged, torn."
pampas: "large plains of S.America, 1704, from Sp. pampas, pl. of pampa, from Quechua (Peru) pampa "a plain."
pamper: c.1380, "to cram with food," probably from M.Du. (cf. W.Flem. pamperen "cram with food, overindulge;" dial. Ger. pampen "to cram"), probably from freq. of base of pap (q.v.). Meaning "to overindulge" first attested 1530.
pamphlet: "small, unbound treatise," late 14c., from Anglo-Latin panfletus, popular short form of "Pamphilus, seu de Amore" ("Pamphilus, or about Love"), a short L. love poem of 12c., popular and widely copied in Middle Ages; the name from Gk. pamphilos "loved by all," from pan- "all" + philos "loving, dear." Meaning "brief work dealing with questions of current interest" is late 16c. Pamphleteer (n.) is first recorded 1640s.
pan (n.): O.E. panne, earlier ponne (Mercian), from W.Gmc. *panna (cf. O.N. panna, O.Fris. panne, O.L.G. panna, O.H.G. phanna, Ger. pfanne), probably an early borrowing (4c. or 5c.) from V.L. *patna, from L. patina "shallow, pan, dish," from Gk. patane "plate, dish," from PIE base *pet- "to spread." Ir. panna probably is from Eng., and Lith. pana is from German. Used of pan-shaped parts of mechanical apparatus from c.1590, hence flash in the pan, a fig. use from early firearms, where a pan held the priming (and the gunpowder might "flash," but no shot ensue). The verb meaning "criticize severely" is from 1911. Pancake is c.1430; as symbol of flatness c.1600. To pan out "turn out, succeed" (1868) is a fig. use of the lit. sense (1839) from panning for gold. To go out of the pan into the fire (1596) is first found in Spenser.
pan (v.): "follow with a camera," 1913 shortening of panoramic, from panoramic camera (1878). Meaning "to swing from one object to another in a scene" is from 1931. Panavision (1955) is a proprietary name of a type of wide-screen lens.
Pan: Arcadian shepherd god with upper body of a man and lower part like a goat, c.1369, a god of the woods and fields, from L., from Gk. Pan, perhaps cognate with Skt. pusan, a Vedic god, guardian and multiplier of cattle and other human possessions, lit. "nourisher." Similarity to pan "all" (see pan-) led to his being regarded as a personification of nature. Pan-pipe, upon which he supposedly played, is attested from 1820.
pan-: prefix meaning "all, whole, all-inclusive," from Gk. pan-, combining form of pas (neut. pan, masc. and neut. gen. pantos) "all," of unknown origin. Commonly used as a prefix in Gk., in modern times often with nationality names, the first example of which seems to have been Panslavism (1846, q.v.). Also panislamic (1881), pan-American (1889), pan-German (1892), pan-African (1900), pan-European (1901), pan-Arabism (1930).
panacea: 1548, from L. panacea, an all-healing herb (variously identified), from Gk. panakeia "cure-all," from panakes "all-healing," from pan- "all" + akos "cure," from iasthai "to heal." Earlier in Eng. as panace (1513).
panache: 1553, "a tuft or plume of feathers," from M.Fr. pennache "tuft of feathers," from It. pennaccio, from L.L. pinnaculum "small wing, gable, peak" (see pinnacle). Fig. sense of "display, swagger" first recorded 1898 (in translation of "Cyrano de Bergerac"), from French.
panama hat: hat made from the leaves of the screw pine, 1833, a misnomer, since it is originally made in Ecuador, but perhaps so called in Amer.Eng. because it was distributed north from Panama City. Panama red as a variety of Central Amer. marijuana is attested from 1967.
panatela: "type of thin cigar," 1901, from Sp., lit. "sponge-cake" (in Amer.Sp., "a long, thin biscuit"), a diminutive, formed from L. panis "bread."
panchen: Tibetian Buddhist title of respect, 1763, abbrev. of pandi-tachen-po, lit. "great learned one."
pancreas: 1578, from Gk. pankreas "sweetbread (pancreas as food), pancreas," from pan- "all" + kreas "flesh," probably on notion of homogeneous substance of the organ.
panda: 1835, from Fr., apparently from Nepalese name of a raccoon-like mammal (lesser panda) found there. First reference to the Giant Panda is from 1901; since its discovers in 1869 by Fr. missionary Armand David (1826-1900) it had been known as parti-colored bear, but the name was changed after the zoological relationship to the red panda was established.
pandemic (adj.): 1666, from Gk. pandemos "pertaining to all people," from pan- "all" + demos "people" (see demotic). Modeled on epidemic. The noun is first recorded 1853, from the adj.
pandemonium: 1667, Pandæmonium, in "Paradise Lost" the name of the palace built in the middle of Hell, "the high capital of Satan and all his peers," coined by John Milton (1608-74) from Gk. pan- "all" + L.L. dæmonium "evil spirit," from Gk. daimonion "inferior divine power," from daimon "lesser god" (see demon). Transferred sense "place of uproar" is from 1779; that of "wild, lawless confusion" is from 1865.
pander (n.): "arranger of sexual liaisons, one who supplies another with the means of gratifying lust," 1520s, "procurer, pimp," from M.E. Pandare (late 14c.), used by Chaucer ("Troylus and Cryseyde"), who borrowed it from Boccaccio (who had it in It. form Pandaro in "Filostrato") as name of the prince who procured the love of Cressida (his niece in Chaucer, his cousin in Boccaccio) for Troilus. The story and the name are of medieval invention. Spelling influenced by agent suffix -er. The verb meaning "to indulge, to minister to base passions" is first recorded c.1600.
Pandora: 1579, first mortal woman, made by Hephaestus and given as a bride to Epimetheus, from Gk. pandora "all-gifted," from pan "all" + doron "gift," from PIE base *do- "to give." Pandora's box (1579) refers to her gift from Zeus, which was foolishly opened by Epimetheus, upon which all the contents escaped. They were said to be the host of human ills, or, in a later version, all the blessings of the god, except Hope, which alone remained.
pane: c.1250, "garment, part of a garment," later "side of a building, section of a wall," from O.Fr. pan "piece, panel" (11c.), from L. pannum (nom. pannus) "piece of cloth, garment," probably cognate with Goth. fana "piece of cloth," Gk. penos "web." Sense of "window glass" first attested 1466.
panegyric: 1603, "eulogy, laudation," from Fr. panégyrique (1512), from L. panegyricus "public eulogy," originally an adj., from Gk. panegyrikos (logos) "(a speech) given in a public assembly," from panegyris "public assembly in honor of a god," from pan- "all" (q.v.) + agyris "place of assembly," Aeolic form of agora (q.v.).
panel: c.1300, from O.Fr. panel "saddle cushion, piece of cloth," from V.L. *pannellus, dim. of L. pannus "piece of cloth" (see pane). Anglo-Fr. sense of "piece of parchment (cloth) listing jurors" led by late 14c. to meaning "jury." General sense of "persons called on to advise, judge, discuss," etc. is from 1575. Sense of "distinct part of surface of a wall, door, etc." is first recorded c.1600. Panelist is 1952 in Amer.Eng.
panem et circenses: 1787, L., lit. "bread and circuses," supposedly coined by Juvenal, the cynical formula of the Roman emperors for keeping the masses content with ample food and entertainment.
pang: 1526, "sudden physical pain," of unknown origin, perhaps related to prong (prongys of deth is recorded from 1447). Ref. to mental pain is from 1570.
Pangaea: "supercontinent of the late Paleozoic era," 1924, from Gk. pan- "all" + gaia "earth," first attested in Ger., 1920, in Alfred Wegener's "Die Entstehung der Kontinente und Ozeane" (not found in 1914 first edition).
Panglossian: "optimistic" (usually ironic or disparaging), 1831, from Fr. Panglosse, name of the philosopher and tutor in Voltaire's "Candide" (1758), from pan- (q.v.) + Gk. glossa, lit. "tongue" (see gloss).
pangolin: 1774, "scaly toothless mammal of Java," from Malay peng-goling "roller," from its habit of curling into a ball; from peng- (denominative prefix) + goling "to roll." Later extended to related species in Asia and Africa.
panhandle (n.): "something resembling the handle of a pan," 1851, especially in ref. to geography, originally Amer.Eng., 1856, in ref. to West Virginia (Florida, Texas, Idaho, Oklahoma also have them). Meaning "an act of begging" is attested from 1849, perhaps from notion of arm stuck out like a panhandle; verb panhandle "to beg" is from 1903.
Panhellenic: 1847, "pertaining to or involving all the Greeks," from Gk. Panhellenes "all the Hellenes," from pan- (q.v.) + Hellenic.
panic (1): "mass terror," c.1600, as an adj. (with fear, terror, etc.), from Fr. panique (15c.), from Gk. panikon, lit. "pertaining to Pan," in sense of "panic, fright" short for panikon deima, from neut. of Panikos "of Pan," the god of woods and fields who was the source of mysterious sounds that caused contagious, groundless fear in herds and crowds, or in people in lonely spots. As a noun, first recorded 1708. Meaning "widespread apprehension about financial matters" is first recorded 1757. The verb is 1827, from the noun. Panicky is first recorded 1869. Panic button in fig. sense is first recorded 1955, the literal sense apparently is from parachuting.
panic (2): "type of grass," c.1420, from O.Fr. panic "Italian millet," from L. panicum "kind of millet," from panus "ear of millet, a swelling," of unknown origin.
panjandrum: mock name for a pompous personage, 1755, invented by Samuel Foote (1720-77) to test the memory of actor old Macklin (who said he could repeat anything after hearing it once) in a long passage full of nonsense.
pannier: late 13c., "large basket for provisions," from O.Fr. panier, from L. panarium "bread basket," from panis "bread" (see food).
panoply: 1576, from Gk. panoplia "complete suit of armor," from pan- "all" + hopla (pl.) "arms" of a hoplites ("heavily armed soldier"). Originally fig., of "spiritual armor," etc. (allusion to Eph. vi); non-armorial sense of "any splendid array" first recorded 1829.
panorama: 1796, "a painting on a revolving cylindrical surface," coined c.1789 by inventor, Irish artist Robert Barker, lit. "a complete view," from pan- "all" (q.v.) + Gk. horama "a view," from horan "to look, see." Meaning "comprehensive survey" is 1801; panoramic is first recorded 1813; panoramic camera is attested from 1878.
Panslavism: 1846, from Ger. Pansclavismus, coined as a linguistic term by Herkel in 1826.
pansy: c.1450, from M.Fr. pensée "a pansy," lit. "thought, remembrance," from fem. pp. of penser "to think," from L. pensare "consider," freq. of pendere "to weigh" (see pensive). So called because it was regarded as a symbol of thought or remembrance. Meaning "effeminate homosexual man" is first recorded 1929.
pant (v.): c.1440, perhaps a shortening of O.Fr. pantaisier "to be out of breath" (12c.), probably from V.L. *pantasiare "be oppressed with a nightmare, struggle for breathing during a nightmare," lit. "to have visions," from Gk. phantasioun "have or form images, subject to hallucinations," from phantasia "appearance, image, fantasy" (see phantasm). The noun is attested from c.1500.