I. ˈpa-n ə l noun
Etymology: Middle English, piece of cloth, jury list on a piece of parchment, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin * pannellus, diminutive of Latin pannus
Date: 14th century
1.
a.
(1) : a schedule containing names of persons summoned as jurors
(2) : the group of persons so summoned
(3) : jury 1
b.
(1) : a group of persons selected for some service (as investigation or arbitration)
a panel of experts
(2) : a group of persons who discuss before an audience a topic of public interest ; also : panel discussion
(3) : a group of entertainers or guests engaged as players in a quiz or guessing game on a radio or television program
2. : a separate or distinct part of a surface: as
a. : a fence section : hurdle
b.
(1) : a thin usually rectangular board set in a frame (as in a door)
(2) : a usually sunken or raised section of a surface set off by a margin
(3) : a flat usually rectangular piece of construction material (as plywood or precast masonry) made to form part of a surface
c. : a vertical section of fabric (as a gore)
d. : comic strip ; also : a frame of a comic strip
3. : a thin flat piece of wood on which a picture is painted ; also : a painting on such a surface
4.
a. : a section of a switchboard
b. : a usually vertical mount for controls or dials (as of instruments of measurement)
II. transitive verb
( -eled or -elled ; -el·ing or -el·ling )
Date: 15th century
: to furnish or decorate with panels
paneled the living room