Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Palladium \Pal*la"di*um\, n. [NL.] (Chem.)
   A rare metallic element of the light platinum group, found
   native, and also alloyed with platinum and gold. It is a
   silver-white metal resembling platinum, and like it permanent
   and untarnished in the air, but is more easily fusible. It is
   unique in its power of occluding hydrogen, which it does to
   the extent of nearly a thousand volumes, forming the alloy
   {Pd2H}. It is used for graduated circles and verniers, for
   plating certain silver goods, and somewhat in dentistry. It
   was so named in 1804 by Wollaston from the asteroid Pallas,
   which was discovered in 1802. Symbol Pd. Atomic weight,
   106.2.