palm

Noun

palm (plural palms)

1. Any of various evergreen trees from the family Palmae or Arecaceae, which are mainly found in the tropics.
2. A branch or leaf of the palm, anciently borne or worn as a symbol of victory or rejoicing.
   • Bible, Revelation vii. 9

     A great multitude […] stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.

3. (Scouting) Any of 23 awards that can be earned after obtaining the Eagle Scout rank, but can only be awarded before an Eagle Scout turns 18 years old (except under special circumstances).

Noun

palm (plural palms)

1. The inner and somewhat concave part of the human hand that extends from the wrist to the bases of the fingers.
   • Tennyson

     Clench'd her fingers till they bit the palm.

   • 1990 October 28, Paul Simon, “Further to Fly”, The Rhythm of the Saints, Warner Bros.

     The open palm of desire wants everything.

2. The corresponding part of the forefoot of a lower mammal.
3. A linear measure equal either to the breadth of the hand or to its length from the wrist to the ends of the fingers; a hand; used in measuring a horse's height.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Internat. Cyc to this entry?)

4. (sailmaking) A metallic disk attached to a strap and worn in the palm of the hand; used to push the needle through the canvas, in sewing sails, etc.
5. The broad flattened part of an antler, as of a full-grown fallow deer; so called as resembling the palm of the hand with its protruding fingers.
   • 1999, Dana Stabenow, Hunter's Moon, →ISBN, page 168:

     They watched until the younger bull received a second cut, this one on his flank from a point on the brow palm that would have impaled him if he hadn't jumped out of the way.

6. (nautical) The flat inner face of an anchor fluke.

Verb

palm (third-person singular simple present palms, present participle palming, simple past and past participle palmed)

1. To hold or conceal something in the palm of the hand, e.g, for an act of sleight of hand or to steal something.
2. To hold something without bending the fingers significantly.

   John palmed the ball.

3. To move something with the palm of the hand.
   • 2010 December 28, Marc Vesty, “Stoke 0 - 2 Fulham”, in BBC‎:

     The home side's goalkeeper Asmir Begovic managed to palm the drive on to the post but the sheer pace of the shot forced the ball into the net.

Derived terms

• dadelpalm
• kokospalm
• palmboom
• palmolie

Declension