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Added 9 October 2026

panel

/ˈpænəl/ noun

Latin root: pannus Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about panel at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A (usually) rectangular section of a surface, or of a covering or of a wall, fence etc.
Behind the picture was a panel on the wall.
A sunken compartment with raised margins, moulded or otherwise, as in ceilings, wainscotings, etc.
A group of people gathered to judge, interview, discuss etc. as on a television or radio broadcast for example.
Today’s panel includes John Smith.

verb

To enter (jury members) on an official list of jurors; to empanel. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
To fit (an animal, especially a mule or ass) with a panel or simple padded saddle.
To fit (a room etc.) with panels.

Origin

From Middle English panel (“piece of cloth, saddle pad, pane of glass, piece of ice, part, division, jury list, jury members”), from Anglo-Norman panel, panelle (“piece of cloth, saddle cushion”), from Vulgar Latin *pannellus, diminutive of Latin pannus (“cloth, rag, garment”), from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂n- (“fabric”). Cognate with Old English fana (“a piece of cloth, patch, banner, flag, vane”). Doublet of vane.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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