from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Panel \Pan"el\, n. [Orig., a little piece; OF. panel, pannel, F.
panneau, dim. of pan skirt, lappet, part or piece of a wall,
side. See 2d {Pane}.]
1. (Arch.) A sunken compartment with raised margins, molded
or otherwise, as in ceilings, wainscotings, etc.
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2. (Law)
(a) A piece of parchment or a schedule, containing the
names of persons summoned as jurors by the sheriff;
hence, more generally, the whole group of persons
summoned on a particular day, from whom a jury is to
be selected; also, the jury selected from that group.
--Blackstone.
(b) (Scots Law) A prisoner arraigned for trial at the bar
of a criminal court. --Burrill.
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3. Hence: Any group of persons selected to judge a contest,
conduct a discussion, serve as advisers, or participate in
any group activity in which they will provide information
or make judgments.
[PJC]
4. Formerly, a piece of cloth serving as a saddle; hence, a
soft pad beneath a saddletree to prevent chafing.
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5. (Joinery) A board having its edges inserted in the groove
of a surrounding frame; as, the panel of a door.
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6. (Masonry) One of the faces of a hewn stone. --Gwilt.
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7. (Painting) A slab or plank of wood upon which, instead of
canvas, a picture is painted.
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8. (Mining)
(a) A heap of dressed ore.
(b) One of the districts divided by pillars of extra size,
into which a mine is laid off in one system of
extracting coal.
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9. (Dressmaking) A plain strip or band, as of velvet or
plush, placed at intervals lengthwise on the skirt of a
dress, for ornament.
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10. A portion of a framed structure between adjacent posts or
struts, as in a bridge truss.
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11. (A["e]ronautics) A segment of an a["e]roplane wing. In a
biplane the outer panel extends from the wing tip to the
next row of posts, and is trussed by oblique stay wires.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
{Panel game}, a method of stealing money in a panel house.
{Panel house}, a house of prostitution in which the rooms
have secret entrances to facilitate theft from customers
by accomplices of the inmates.
{Panel saw}, handsaw with fine teeth, -- used for cutting out
panels, etc.
{Panel thief}, one who robs in a panel house.
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