[palm] n [ME, fr. OE, fr. L palma palm of the hand, palm tree; fr. the resemblance of the tree's leaves to the outstretched hand; akin to Gk palame palm of the hand, OE folm, OIr lam hand] (bef. 12c) 1: any of a family (Palmae, the palm family) of mostly tropical or subtropical monocotyledonous trees, shrubs, or vines with usu. a simple stem and a terminal crown of large pinnate or fan-shaped leaves
2: a leaf of the palm as a symbol of victory or rejoicing; also: a branch (as of laurel) similarly used
3: a symbol of triumph; also: victory, triumph
4: an addition to a military decoration in the form of a palm frond esp. to indicate a second award of the basic decoration -- palm.like adj
[2]palm n [ME paume, fr. MF, fr. L palma] (14c) 1: the somewhat concave part of the human hand between the bases of the fingers and the wrist or the corresponding part of the forefoot of a lower mammal
2: a flat expanded part esp. at the end of a base or stalk (as of an anchor) 3 [L palmus, fr. palma]: a unit of length based on the breadth or length of the hand
4: something (as a part of a glove) that covers the palm of the hand
5: an act of palming (as of cards) [3]palm vt (1673) 1 a: to conceal in or with the hand "~ a card" b: to pick up stealthily
2: to impose by fraud "a second imposter to be ~ed upon you --Sir Walter Scott"
3: to touch with the palm: as a: to stroke with the palm or hand b: to shake hands with c: to allow (a basketball) to come to rest momentarily in the hand while dribbling thus committing a violation