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palm
palm1 / pä(l)m/ • n. (also palm tree) an unbranched evergreen tree (family Palmae or Arecaceae) with a crown of long feathered or fan-shaped leaves, and typically having old leaf scars forming a regular pattern on the trunk. Palms grow in tropical and warm regions, and many are of great commercial importance, esp. the oil palm, date palm, and coconut. ∎ a leaf of such a tree awarded as a prize or viewed as a symbol of victory or triumph. palm2 • n. the inner surface of the hand between the wrist and fingers. ∎ a part of a glove that covers this part of the hand. ∎ a hard shield worn on the hand by sailmakers to protect the palm in sewing. ∎ the palmate part of an antler. • v. 1. [tr.] conceal (a card or other small object) in the hand, esp. as part of a trick or theft: he would spin wild tales while palming your wristwatch. 2. [tr.] hit (something) with the palm of the hand. ∎ Basketball illegally grip (the ball) with the hand while dribbling. PHRASES: have (or hold) someone in the palm of one's hand have someone under one's control or influence: she had the audience in the palm of her hand. read someone's palm tell someone's fortune by looking at the lines on their palm.PHRASAL VERBS: palm someone off inf. persuade someone to accept something by deception: most sellers are palmed off with a fraction of what something is worth. palm something off sell or dispose of something by misrepresentation or fraud: they palmed off their shoddiest products on the Russians.DERIVATIVES: pal·mar / ˈpalmər; ˈpä(l)mər/ adj. palmed adj. [in comb.] sweaty-palmed. palm·ful / -fəl/ n. |
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"palm." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "palm." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-palm.html "palm." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-palm.html |
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palm
palm an unbranched evergreen tree with a crown of very long feathered or fan-shaped leaves, and typically having old leaf scars forming a regular pattern on the trunk. The leaf of this tree was traditionally awarded as a prize or viewed as a symbol of victory or triumph.
In Christian symbolism, the palm is used as a festive emblem on Palm Sunday, and was also the sign of a pilgrim who was returning or had returned from the Holy Land (a palmer). In northern countries, palm may be used for other shrubs, such as sallow or pussy willow, which are used on Palm Sunday. A palm is also a symbol of virginity. Recorded in Old English and of Germanic origin, the word is ultimately related to Latin palma ‘palm (of a hand)’, its leaf being likened to a spread hand. Palm Court a large room or patio, especially in a hotel, decorated with palm trees; the term Palm Court music is used to designate light orchestral music of a kind frequently played in a Palm Court. Palm Sunday the Sunday before Easter, on which Christ's entry into Jerusalem is celebrated in many Christian churches by processions in which branches of palms are carried. The name is recorded from Old English. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "palm." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "palm." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-palm.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "palm." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-palm.html |
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palm
palm1 tree of the (chiefly tropical) family Palmae: leaf or ‘branch’ of a palm tree OE.; branch or sprig of a tree substituted for the palm in Palm Sunday processions XIV. OE. palm(a), palme = OS., OHG. palma (Du. palm, G. palme), ON. pálmr; Gmc. — L. palma PALM2 (the palmleaf was likened to the hand with the fingers extended). In ME. the word coincided with the repr. of AN. (modF.) palme, OF. paume. Palm Sunday Sunday next before Easter, on which processions are held in which palms are carried. OE. palm-sunnandæġ, tr. ecclL. Dominica Palmarum.
Hence palmy abounding in palms; flourishing. XVII. |
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T. F. HOAD. "palm." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "palm." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-palm.html T. F. HOAD. "palm." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-palm.html |
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palm
palm2 part of the hand between the fingers and the wrist; flat part of a deer's horn XIV; measure of length XV. ME. paume — (O)F. paume = Sp., It. palma :— L. palma palm of the hand, part of the trunk of a tree from which branches spring, palm-leaf, palm-tree (see prec.), rel. obscurely to Gr. palámē palm of the hand, Ir. lám hand, OE. folm. ME. paume, through paulme (also OF.), was finally assim. to the L.
Hence palm vb. XVII. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "palm." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "palm." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-palm1.html T. F. HOAD. "palm." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-palm1.html |
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palm
palm Monocotyledon tree found in tropical and sub- tropical regions. Palms have a woody, unbranched trunk with a crown of large, stiff leaves. The leaves may be palmate (fan-like) or pinnate (feather-like). Fibres cover the trunks of palm trees. All palms produce drupes, such as date or coconut. Palms are a source of wax, oil, fibre, and sugar. Height: 60m (200ft). Family Arecacae/Palmae. See also liana
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"palm." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "palm." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-palm.html "palm." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-palm.html |
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palm
palm A tall, hardy tree with a remarkable capacity for survival in a difficult climate (Ps. 92: 12–14). The fruit (dates) was valuable and the leaves were gathered and strewn as a symbol of joy (Mark 11: 8). They became a national emblem of the Jews. Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem was marked by the waving of palms (John 12: 13).
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "palm." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. W. R. F. BROWNING. "palm." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-palm.html W. R. F. BROWNING. "palm." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-palm.html |
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palm
palm. Palm-leaves occur in Ancient Egyptian decoration (especially palmiform capitals). Flat palm-fronds with curved ends appear in a unique type of Corinthian capital at the Tower of the Winds, Athens (c.50 bc), often copied on C18 capitals, friezes, and other mouldings.
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JAMES STEVENS CURL. "palm." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES STEVENS CURL. "palm." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-palm.html JAMES STEVENS CURL. "palm." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-palm.html |
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palm
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"palm." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "palm." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-palm.html "palm." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-palm.html |
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palm
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"palm." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "palm." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-palm.html "palm." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-palm.html |
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