From Middle English palme, from Old English palm, palma (“palm-tree, palm-branch”), from Latin palma (“palm-tree, palm-branch, palm of the hand”), from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₂meh₂, *pl̥h₂emeh₂ (“palm of the hand”), from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂- (“flat”). Cognate with Dutch palm, German Palme, Danish palme, Icelandic pálmur (“palm”).
Meanings
Any of various evergreen trees from the family Palmae or Arecaceae, which are mainly found in the tropics.
A branch or leaf of the palm, anciently borne or worn as a symbol of victory or rejoicing.
A great multitude […] stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palmes in their hands. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Revelation 7:9:
(broadly, figuratively) Triumph; victory.
(qualifier:scouting) Any of the twenty-three awards that can be earned after obtaining the Eagle Scout rank, but generally only before turning eighteen years old.
From Middle English palme, paume, from Old French palme, paulme, paume (“palm of the hand, ball, tennis”), from Latin palma (“palm of the hand, hand-breadth”), from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₂(e)meh₂ (“palm of the hand”), from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂- (“flat”). Doublet of palmo, palma, and pam. Cognate with Ancient Greek παλάμη (palámē, “palm of the hand”), Old English folm (“palm of the hand”), Old Irish lám (“hand”).
Meanings
The inner and somewhat concave part of the human hand or other primate hand that extends from the wrist to the bases of the fingers.
The open palm of desire wants everything. 1990 October 28, Paul Simon, “Further to Fly”, in The Rhythm of the Saints, Warner Bros.:
The chiromancer examined my palms first, and eventually had my hands photographed.
On the boys' palms were handfuls of sand.
[She] flung herself / Down on the great King's couch, and writhed upon it, / And clench'd her fingers till they bit the palm, / And shriek'd out 'traitor' to the unhearing wall, […] 1859, Alfred Tennyson, “Elaine”, in Idylls of the King, London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, page 179:
The corresponding part of the forefoot of a nonprimate mammal.
(historical) Synonym of hand, any of various units of length notionally derived from the breadth of the palm, formalized in England as 4 inches and now chiefly used for the height of horses
He found it to be ninety-five fathoms wide, and five palms deep at a place of average depth 1931, Herbert Eugene Bolton, Outpost of Empire: The Story of the Founding of San Francisco:
(historical) Any of various units of length notionally derived from the length of the palm from the wrist to the base of the fingers.
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.
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.
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. 1999, Dana Stabenow, Hunter's Moon, →ISBN, page 168:
io palmo (inner, concave part of hand) · ksw စုညါသး (inner, concave part of hand) · my လက်ဝါး (inner, concave part of hand) · ln likanza (inner, concave part of hand) · ru ладо́нь (inner, concave part of hand) · sw kikofi (inner, concave part of hand) · ga bos (inner, concave part of hand) · ar كَفّ (inner, concave part of hand) · got 𐌻𐍉𐍆𐌰 (inner, concave part of hand) · scn pàlma (inner, concave part of hand) · hsb dłóń (inner, concave part of hand) · yi דלאָניע (inner, concave part of hand) · fa هبک (inner, concave part of hand) · mba palad (inner, concave part of hand) · ruq palmă (inner, concave part of hand) · ttj ekiganja class 7 (inner, concave part of hand) · sc prama (inner, concave part of hand) · nn handflate (inner, concave part of hand) · dlm puolma (inner, concave part of hand) · fa کف (inner, concave part of hand) · te అరచేయి (inner, concave part of hand) · ne हत्केला (inner, concave part of hand) · nb håndflate (inner, concave part of hand) · ota آوج (inner, concave part of hand) · za bajfwngz (inner, concave part of hand) · ps کف (inner, concave part of hand) · sq pëllëmbë (inner, concave part of hand) · is lófi (inner, concave part of hand) · bni likata (inner, concave part of hand) · de Handteller (inner, concave part of hand) · fi lapio (broad flattened part of an antler) · he כַּף יָד (inner, concave part of hand) · kaa alaqan (inner, concave part of hand) · la vola (inner, concave part of hand) · fr empaumure (broad flattened part of an antler) · fi kämmen (corresponding part of the forefoot of a lower mammal) · as তলুৱা (inner, concave part of hand) · km ប្រអប់ដៃ (inner, concave part of hand) · eo manplato (inner, concave part of hand) · nv álátłʼááh (inner, concave part of hand) · kmr kefa destî (inner, concave part of hand) · bg длан (inner, concave part of hand) · rup palmã (inner, concave part of hand) · uk доло́нь (inner, concave part of hand) · cu ⰴⰾⰰⱀⱐ (inner, concave part of hand) · av хъат (inner, concave part of hand) · qu maki pampan (inner, concave part of hand) · oc pauma (inner, concave part of hand) · bni likanza (inner, concave part of hand) · cop ϩⲓⲟⲙⲉ (inner, concave part of hand) · lo ຝ່າ (inner, concave part of hand) · trc cuxruj raꞌa (inner, concave part of hand) · trc rque raꞌa (inner, concave part of hand) · he פִּסַּת יָד (inner, concave part of hand) · mnc ᡶᠠᠯᠠᠩᡤᡡ (inner, concave part of hand) · lv plauksta (inner, concave part of hand) · grc παλάμη (inner, concave part of hand) · ja 肉球 (corresponding part of the forefoot of a lower mammal) · taa -lok'a (inner, concave part of hand) · uga 𐎋𐎔 (inner, concave part of hand) · ur ہتھیلی (inner, concave part of hand) · xh intende (inner, concave part of hand) · sec péḵ-álh-úya (inner, concave part of hand) · nl palm (inner, concave part of hand) · fur palme (inner, concave part of hand) · fo lógvi (inner, concave part of hand) · bua альган (inner, concave part of hand) · dsb dłoń (inner, concave part of hand) · tl palad (inner, concave part of hand) · tk aýa (inner, concave part of hand) · he כַּף (inner, concave part of hand) · ja 掌 (inner, concave part of hand) · uk доло́ня (inner, concave part of hand) · grc θέναρ (inner, concave part of hand) · as কৰতল (inner, concave part of hand) · ro palmă (inner, concave part of hand) · ps خپړ (inner, concave part of hand) · gld пайнга (inner, concave part of hand) · mr तळहात (inner, concave part of hand) · az kəfə (inner, concave part of hand) · sq pllâmë (inner, concave part of hand) · nrf paûmé (inner, concave part of hand) · sh dlȁn (inner, concave part of hand) · cop ϣⲟⲡ (inner, concave part of hand) · hu marok (inner, concave part of hand) · ka ხელისგული (inner, concave part of hand) · paw ikskakusiriʼ (inner, concave part of hand) · eo polmo (inner, concave part of hand) · cu длань (inner, concave part of hand) · izh kämmel (inner, concave part of hand) · id telapak tangan (inner, concave part of hand) · sl dlan (inner, concave part of hand) · xal альхн (inner, concave part of hand) · ar رَاحَة (inner, concave part of hand) · ckb مِست (inner, concave part of hand) · alt алакан (inner, concave part of hand) · tft saha (inner, concave part of hand) · km បាតដៃ (inner, concave part of hand) · bn করতল (inner, concave part of hand) · da håndflade (inner, concave part of hand) · vo namakev (inner, concave part of hand) · nci mācpalli (inner, concave part of hand) · zza lep (inner, concave part of hand) · sw kiganja (inner, concave part of hand) · pl dłoń (inner, concave part of hand) · hu tenyér (inner, concave part of hand) · bcl palad (inner, concave part of hand) · fy bal (fan 'e hân) (inner, concave part of hand) · ms tapak tangan (inner, concave part of hand) · ti ከብዲ ኢድ (inner, concave part of hand) · nb handflate (inner, concave part of hand) · nrf paumet (inner, concave part of hand) · paw ikskatahcuʼ (inner, concave part of hand) · tr kefne (metallic disc attached to a strap) · arz بَطْن إِيد (inner, concave part of hand) · nog ая (inner, concave part of hand) · os армытъӕпӕн (inner, concave part of hand) · yue 手板 (inner, concave part of hand) · mn алга (inner, concave part of hand) · vi gan bàn tay (inner, concave part of hand) · sc parma (inner, concave part of hand) · ckb لەپ (inner, concave part of hand) · izh kämmen (inner, concave part of hand) · fy hânpalm (inner, concave part of hand) · oc palma (inner, concave part of hand) · zu ukhweshe class 11/10 (inner, concave part of hand) · fi kämmen (inner, concave part of hand) · kix phōhmông (inner, concave part of hand) · gu હથેલી (inner, concave part of hand) · fr paume (inner, concave part of hand) · ca palmell (inner, concave part of hand) · ilo dakulap (inner, concave part of hand) · ota آیا (inner, concave part of hand) · mk дланка (inner, concave part of hand) · ksc parad (inner, concave part of hand) · he כַּף (corresponding part of the forefoot of a lower mammal) · dtp palad (inner, concave part of hand) · ln likata (inner, concave part of hand) · acw كَفّ (inner, concave part of hand) · sh дла̏н (inner, concave part of hand) · ba ус (inner, concave part of hand) · kjh айа (inner, concave part of hand) · bho हथेली (inner, concave part of hand) · skr تَلّی (inner, concave part of hand) · vec palma (inner, concave part of hand) · tr aya (inner, concave part of hand) · pt palma da mão (inner, concave part of hand) · ru длань (inner, concave part of hand) · th ฝ่า (inner, concave part of hand) · gd cròg (inner, concave part of hand) · cs dlaň (inner, concave part of hand) · et kämmal (inner, concave part of hand) · eu esku-barne (inner, concave part of hand) · lv delna (inner, concave part of hand) · vi lòng bàn tay (inner, concave part of hand) · pt palma (inner, concave part of hand) · gl palma (inner, concave part of hand) · ta உள்ளங்கை (inner, concave part of hand) · tr avuç içi (inner, concave part of hand) · uz kaft (inner, concave part of hand) · es palma de la mano (inner, concave part of hand) · scn palma (inner, concave part of hand) · az aya (inner, concave part of hand) · tt уч (inner, concave part of hand) · sc palma (inner, concave part of hand) · it guardapalma (metallic disc attached to a strap) · br boz (inner, concave part of hand) · la palpus (inner, concave part of hand) · sah ытыс (inner, concave part of hand) · az ovuc (inner, concave part of hand) · shn ၽႃႇ (inner, concave part of hand) · ny chikato (inner, concave part of hand) · la palma (inner, concave part of hand) · ota كف (inner, concave part of hand) · egy O43-p:N11 (inner, concave part of hand) · es palma (inner, concave part of hand) · fi lapa (broad flattened part of an antler) · non lófi (inner, concave part of hand) · ko 손바닥 (inner, concave part of hand) · eu esku-azpi (inner, concave part of hand) · sw kiganja (corresponding part of the forefoot of a lower mammal) · ja 手のひら (inner, concave part of hand) · my ဖဝါး (inner, concave part of hand) · ltg plauksts (inner, concave part of hand) · nn lóve (inner, concave part of hand) · cjs алаққан (inner, concave part of hand) · ota كفنه (metallic disc attached to a strap) · as হাতৰ তলুৱা (inner, concave part of hand) · tpw popytera class Ib (inner, concave part of hand) · mww xib teg (inner, concave part of hand) · eu ahur (inner, concave part of hand) · el παλάμη (inner, concave part of hand) · de Handfläche (inner, concave part of hand) · ceb palad (inner, concave part of hand) · scn parma (inner, concave part of hand) · scn pamma (inner, concave part of hand) · ga dearna (inner, concave part of hand) · be дало́нь (inner, concave part of hand) · ast palma (inner, concave part of hand) · sk dlaň (inner, concave part of hand) · hy ափ (inner, concave part of hand) · tsg pad (inner, concave part of hand) · sw kikofi (corresponding part of the forefoot of a lower mammal) · la palmus (inner, concave part of hand) · evn ханңга (inner, concave part of hand) · gd bas (inner, concave part of hand) · ksc agpar (inner, concave part of hand) · cy cledr (inner, concave part of hand) · ug ئالقان (inner, concave part of hand) · wo ténq (inner, concave part of hand) · kmr kef (inner, concave part of hand) · kk алақан (inner, concave part of hand) · ang handbred (inner, concave part of hand) · cmn 手掌 (inner, concave part of hand) · nl handpalm (inner, concave part of hand) · it palmo (inner, concave part of hand) · lt delnas (inner, concave part of hand) · ms telapak tangan (inner, concave part of hand) · ky алакан (inner, concave part of hand) · tg каф (inner, concave part of hand) · hi हथेली (inner, concave part of hand) · ru до́лонь (inner, concave part of hand) · sv handflata (inner, concave part of hand)
From Middle English palme, paume, from Old French palme, paulme, paume (“palm of the hand, ball, tennis”), from Latin palma (“palm of the hand, hand-breadth”), from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₂(e)meh₂ (“palm of the hand”), from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂- (“flat”). Doublet of palmo, palma, and pam. Cognate with Ancient Greek παλάμη (palámē, “palm of the hand”), Old English folm (“palm of the hand”), Old Irish lám (“hand”).
Meanings
To hold or conceal something in the palm of the hand, e.g., for an act of sleight of hand or to steal something.
To hold something without bending the fingers significantly.
John palmed the ball.
To move something with the palm of the hand.
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. 2010 December 28, Marc Vesty, “Stoke 0 - 2 Fulham”, in BBC:
(intransitive, transitive) To use one's palm as identification to get through a door or security checkpoint.
I palmed in to work.
She palmed the door as she talked to the security guard.
(UK, obsolete, slang, transitive) To bribe.
He never again appeared in the house where practices of this description are carried on every night, and where officers of the police are palmed (bribed) for their forbearance. 1845, George Smeeton, Doings in London, page 78:
hu tenyerébe rejt (to hold or conceal something in the palm of the hand) · fi piilottaa kämmeneensä (to hold or conceal something in the palm of the hand) · zza lep kerden (to hold or conceal something in the palm of the hand) · ta தள்ளு (to move something with the palm of the hand) · pt palmar (to hold or conceal something in the palm of the hand) · sw kikofi (to move something with the palm of the hand) · fi siirtää kämmenellä (to move something with the palm of the hand) · tr avuçlamak (to hold or conceal something in the palm of the hand) · ja 握る (to hold or conceal something in the palm of the hand) · fi pitää kämmenellä (to hold something without bending the fingers) · sw kikofi (to hold something without bending the fingers) · ja 手のひらに隠す (to hold or conceal something in the palm of the hand) · pt empalmar (to hold or conceal something in the palm of the hand) · ja 手のひらで持つ (to hold something without bending the fingers)