Main Entry:: ¹palm
Pronunciation:: \ˈpäm, ˈpälm, ˈpȯm, ˈpȯlm\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Middle English, from Old English, from Latin palma palm of the hand, palm tree; from the resemblance of the tree's leaves to the outstretched hand; akin to Greek palamē palm of the hand, Old English folm, Old Irish lám hand
Date:: before 12th century

1: any of a family (Palmae syn. Arecaceae) of mostly tropical or subtropical monocotyledonous trees, shrubs, or vines with usually a simple stem and a terminal crown of large pinnate or fan-shaped leaves2: a leaf of the palm as a symbol of victory or rejoicing ; also : a branch (as of laurel) similarly used3: a symbol of triumph or superiority ; also : victory , triumph4: an addition to a military decoration in the form of a palm frond especially to indicate a second award of the basic decoration

— palm·like

\-ˌlīk\ adjective

[palm illustration]

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