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palatal (adj.)

1728, of sounds, "uttered by the aid of the palate," from palate + -al (1). By 1786 as "of or pertaining to the roof of the mouth." As a noun, "a sound or letter usually produced by the upper surface of the tongue against a part of the palate," by 1762.

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Definitions of palatal from WordNet
1
palatal (adj.)
relating to or lying near the palate;
palatal index
Synonyms: palatine
palatal (adj.)
produced with the front of the tongue near or touching the hard palate (as `y') or with the blade of the tongue near the hard palate (as `ch' in `chin' or `j' in `gin');
Synonyms: palatalized / palatalised
2
palatal (n.)
a semivowel produced with the tongue near the palate (like the initial sound in the English word `yeast');
From wordnet.princeton.edu