impale (v.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict[impale 词源字典]
1520s, "to enclose with stakes, fence in," from Middle French empaler and directly from Medieval Latin impalare "to push onto a stake," from assimilated form of in- "into, in" (see in- (2)) + Latin palus "a stake, prop, stay; wooden post, pole," from PIE *pak-slo-, from root *pag-/*pak- "to fasten" (see pact). Sense of "pierce with a pointed stake" (as torture or punishment) first recorded 1610s. Related: Impaled; impaling.[impale etymology, impale origin, 英语词源]
pale (v.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict
late 14c., "become pale; appear pale" (also, in Middle English, "to make pale"), from Old French paleir (12c.) or from pale (adj.). Related: Paled; paling.
palisade (n.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict
"a fence of stakes," c. 1600, from Middle French palissade (15c.), from Provençal palissada, from palissa "a stake or paling," from Gallo-Roman *palicea, from Latin palus "stake" (see pale (n.)). Military sense is attested from 1690s. The Palisades, along the Hudson River opposite New York City, so called by 1823.
railing (n.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict
"construction in which rails form an important part," early 15c., verbal noun from rail (v.2). Technically, railings (late 15c.) are horizontal, palings are vertical.
jackie hangmanyoudaoicibaDictYouDict
"South African term for fiscal (sense 2 of the noun)", Early 20th century: apparently so named because of the bird's habit of impaling its prey on long sharp thorns.