p-e-l
PEL is a unit of currency in Botswana, equal to 100 thebe. In word games, this 3-letter word provides solid point value with its P tile.
5
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
PEL refers to a pixel, the smallest controllable element of a picture on a screen. The term is a contraction of "picture element," fundamental to digital imaging. Each pel represents a single point in a raster image, with millions combining to create the images we see on displays. In computing and digital photography, pels are the building blocks of visual information. Screen resolution is measured in pels, with higher pel counts producing sharper images. The concept bridges art and technology, as digital artists work at the pel level for precise control.Key aspects of PEL:
The word pel emerged in the 1960s as a shortened form of "pixel," itself a portmanteau of "picture element." The term was coined by computer graphics researchers who needed concise terminology for the smallest addressable screen element. While "pixel" became the dominant term, "pel" persists in technical contexts, particularly in IBM documentation and certain imaging standards. The word reflects the early days of computer graphics when researchers were establishing fundamental concepts that would revolutionize visual media. Interestingly, "pel" predates widespread digital imaging, originating when computer displays were primitive compared to today's high-resolution screens.
•A 4K display contains over 8 million pels, each capable of millions of color combinations
•The first computer displays had pels so large they were visible to the naked eye
•Pixel art deliberately uses large pels to create a nostalgic, retro gaming aesthetic
"Each pel on your screen is actually made of red, green, and blue sub-pixels."
"Dead pels on a monitor appear as stuck bright or dark spots."
Total base points: 5 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 1 | Consonants: 2
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like PEL