Etymology 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”).
1
Any of various evergreen trees from the family Palmae or Arecaceae, which are mainly found in the tropics.
2
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:
Etymology 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”).
1
To hold or conceal something in the palm of the hand, e.g., for an act of sleight of hand or to steal something.
2
To hold something without bending the fingers significantly.
John palmed the ball.
3
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:
4
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.
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:
Etymology 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”).
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.
On the boys' palms were handfuls of sand.
The chiromancer examined my palms first, and eventually had my hands photographed.
2 more examples
[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 open palm of desire wants everything.1990 October 28, Paul Simon, “Further to Fly”, in The Rhythm of the Saints, Warner Bros.:
2
The corresponding part of the forefoot of a nonprimate mammal.
3
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 depth1931, Herbert Eugene Bolton, Outpost of Empire: The Story of the Founding of San Francisco:
4
Historical Any of various units of length notionally derived from the length of the palm from the wrist to the base of the fingers.
5
Arts, Crafts, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Nautical, Sailmaking, Transport 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.
6
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: