E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Pall,
the covering thrown over a coffin, is the Latin pallium, a square piece of cloth used by the Romans to throw over their shoulders, or to cover them in bed; hence a coverlet.
1
Pall, the long sweeping robe, is the Roman palla, worn only by princes and
women of honest fame. This differed greatly from the pallium, which was worn by freemen and slaves, soldiers, and philosophers.
