palm

palm¹

noun

1》 (also palm tree) an unbranched evergreen tree with a crown of very long feathered or fan-shaped leaves, growing in tropical and warm regions. [Family Palmae: numerous species.]

2》 a leaf of a palm awarded as a prize or viewed as a symbol of victory.

Origin

OE palm(a), of Gmc origin, from L. palma 'palm (of a hand)', its leaf being likened to a spread hand.

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palm²

noun

1》 the inner surface of the hand between the wrist and fingers.

2》 the palmate part of a deer's antler.

verb

1》 conceal (a small object) in the hand, especially as part of a trick.

2》 (palm something off) informal sell or dispose of something by misrepresentation or fraud.

    ↘(palm someone off) persuade someone to accept something by deception.

3》 deflect (a ball) with the palm of the hand.

Phrases

in the palm of one's hand under one's control or influence.

read someone's palm tell someone's fortune by looking at the lines on their palm.

Derivatives

palmar 'palmə adjective

-palmed adjective

palmful noun (plural palmfuls).

Origin

ME: from OFr. paume, from L. palma.