CPLD = Complex Programmable Logic Device A chip half-way between a PAL (think of a dozen or so gates in a small package, you could choose how they were hooked

CPLD = Complex Programmable Logic Device A chip half-way between a PAL (think of a dozen or so gates in a small package, you could choose how they were hooked up; it was fast and it was small) and an FPGA (relatively huge and expensive). Both programmable, but PALs usually only once.