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Definition of palm - 10 dictionary results
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palm

1  [pahm]
Use palm in a Sentence
–noun
1. the part of the inner surface of the hand that extends from the wrist to the bases of the fingers.
2. the corresponding part of the forefoot of an animal.
3. the part of a glove covering this part of the hand.
4. Also called sailmaker's palm. a stiff rawhide or metal shield worn over this part of the hand by sailmakers to serve as a thimble.
5. a linear measure of from 3 to 4 inches (7 1/2 –10 centimeters), based on the breadth of the hand.
6. a linear measure of from 7 to 10 inches (17 1/2 –25 centimeters), based on the length of the hand.
7. the flat, expanded part of the horn or antler of a deer.
8. a flat, widened part at the end of an armlike projection.
9. Nautical.
a. the blade of an oar.
b. the inner face of an anchor fluke.
c. (loosely) an anchor fluke.
10. a flat-topped bearing member at the head of a stanchion.
–verb (used with object)
11. to conceal in the palm, as in cheating at cards or dice or in juggling.
12. to pick up stealthily.
13. to hold in the hand.
14. to impose (something) fraudulently (usually fol. by on or upon): to palm stolen jewels on someone.
15. to touch or stroke with the palm or hand.
16. to shake hands with.
17. Basketball. to grip (the ball) momentarily with the hand in the act of dribbling.
—Verb phrase
18. palm off, to dispose of by deception, trickery, or fraud; substitute (something) with intent to deceive: Someone had palmed off a forgery on the museum officials.
—Idiom
19. grease someone's palm, to give money to, esp. as a bribe: Before any work could begin, it was necessary to grease the superintendent's palm.
Origin:
1300–50; < L palma (c. OE folm hand); r. ME paume < MF < L palma
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palm

2  [pahm]
–noun
1. any of numerous plants of the family Palmae, most species being tall, unbranched trees surmounted by a crown of large pinnate or palmately cleft leaves. Compare palm family.
2. any of various other trees or shrubs that resemble this.
3. a leaf or branch of such a tree, esp. as formerly borne to signify victory or as used on festive occasions.
4. a representation of such a leaf or branch, as on a military or other decoration of honor, usually indicating a second award of the decoration.
5. the reward of honor due to a victor: In oratory she yields the palm to no one.
6. victory; triumph; success: He carried off the palm by sheer perseverance.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME, OE < L palma palm tree, special use of palma palm 1

Related forms:
palmlike, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To palm
palm 1   (päm)   
n.  

    1. The inner surface of the hand that extends from the wrist to the base of the fingers.

    2. The similar part of the forefoot of a quadruped.

  2. A unit of length equal to either the width or the length of the hand.

  3. The part of a glove or mitten that covers the palm of the hand.

  4. Nautical A metal shield worn by sailmakers over the palm of the hand and used to force a needle through heavy canvas.

  5. Nautical The blade of an oar or paddle.

  6. The flattened part of the antlers of certain animals, such as the moose.

tr.v.   palmed, palm·ing, palms

    1. To hold in the palm of the hand.

    2. To touch or stroke with the palm of the hand.

  2. To conceal in the palm of the hand, as in cheating at dice or cards or in a sleight-of-hand trick.

  3. To pick up furtively.

  4. Basketball To commit a violation by letting (the ball) rest momentarily in the palm of the hand while dribbling.

Phrasal Verb(s):
palm offTo dispose of or pass off by deception.

Idiom(s):
an itchy palmA strong desire for money, especially bribes.

[Middle English paume, from Old French, from Latin palma, palm tree, palm of the hand; see pelə-2 in Indo-European roots.]
palm'ful' n.
palm 2   (päm)   
n.  

  1. Any of various chiefly tropical evergreen trees, shrubs, or woody vines of the family Palmae (or Arecaceae), characteristically having unbranched trunks with a crown of large pinnate or palmate leaves having conspicuous parallel venation.

  2. A leaf of a palm tree, carried as an emblem of victory, success, or joy.

  3. Triumph; victory.

  4. A small metallic representation of a palm leaf added to a military decoration that has been awarded more than one time.


[Middle English, from Old English and from Old French palme, both from Latin palma, palm of the hand, palm tree (from the shape of the tree's fronds); see pelə-2 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
palm

  1. tv.
    to conceal something in the hand as in a theft or the performance of a magic trick; to receive and conceal a tip or a bribe. : The kid palmed the candy bar and walked right out of the store.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

palm  (1)
"flat of the hand," c.1300, from O.Fr. palme, from L. palma "palm of the hand," from PIE *pela- "to spread out, flat" (cf. Gk. palame "open hand," O.Ir. lam, Welsh llaw O.E. folm, O.H.G. folma "hand," Skt. panih "hand, hoof"). To palm (something) off is from 1822; earlier simply to palm "impose (something) on (someone)" (1679). Palm oil is earlier in the punning sense of "bribe" (c.1627) than in the literal sense of "oil from the fruit of the W.African palm" (1705, from palm (2)).

palm  (2)
"tropical tree," O.E. palma, O.Fr. palme, both from L. palma "palm tree," originally "palm of the hand;" the tree so called from the shape of its leaves, like fingers of a hand (see palm (1)). The word traveled early to northern Europe, where the tree does not grow, via Christianity (e.g. O.E. palm-sunnandæg "Palm Sunday"). In ancient times, a leaf or frond was carried or worn as a symbol of victory or triumph, or on feast days; hence fig. use of palm for "victory, triumph" (c.1386), and adj. palmy "triumphant" (1602). Palm court "large room in a hotel, etc., usually decorated with potted palms" first recorded 1908. Palmer "pilgrim who has returned from the Holy Land" (1176, as a surname) is from Anglo-Fr. palmer (O.Fr. palmier), from M.L. palmarius, from L. palma "palm tree." So called because they wore palm branches in commemoration of the journey.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: palm
Pronunciation: 'pä(l)m
Function: noun
: the somewhat concave part of the human hand between the bases of the fingers and the wrist orthe corresponding part of the forefoot of a lower mammal
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

palm (päm)
n.
The inner surface of the hand that extends from the wrist to the base of the fingers.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Idioms & Phrases

palm

In addition to the idiom beginning with palm, also see cross someone's palm; grease someone's palm; itchy palm.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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