Palmed

palm ¹  (päm)

n.

1.

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

b. 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.

a. To hold in the palm of the hand.

b. 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:

palm off

To dispose of or pass off by deception.

Idiom:

an itchy palm

A strong desire for money, especially bribes.

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[Middle English paume, from Old French, from Latin palma, palm tree, palm of the hand; see pel-² in Indo-European roots.]

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palmful n.

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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.

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[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 pel-² in Indo-European roots.]