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. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. (Joinery) A board having its edges inserted in the groove of a surrounding frame; as, the panel of a door. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. (Masonry) One of the faces of a hewn stone. Gwilt. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. (Painting) A slab or plank of wood upon which, instead of canvas, a picture is painted. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 9. (Dressmaking) A plain strip or band, as of velvet or plush, placed at intervals lengthwise on the skirt of a dress, for ornament. [ 1913 Webster ] 10. A portion of a framed structure between adjacent posts or struts, as in a bridge truss. [ 1913 Webster ] 11. (Aëronautics) A segment of an aëroplane 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. [ 1913 Webster ]
| 
