n. 1 hist. a a pilgrim returning from the Holy Land with a palm branch or leaf. b an itinerant monk under a vow of poverty. 2 a hairy artificial fly used in angling. 3 (in full palmer-worm) a destructive hairy caterpillar of a European moth, Euproctis chrysorrhoea.
[ ME f. AF palmer, OF palmier f. med.L palmarius pilgrim ]