Date Palm
/ˈdeɪt ˌpɑːm/noun
A palm tree, especially Phoenix dactylifera, that produces edible date fruits.
Did you know?The date palm’s scientific name, Phoenix dactylifera, means approximately “date-bearing phoenix,” linking the tree to the legendary bird’s name in classical Latin and Greek tradition.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
dáktylos
“Finger; also used for the date fruit because of its finger-like shape”
Ancient Latin
Latin
dactylus
“Date fruit; a borrowing from Greek dáktylos”
Old French
Old French
date
“Date fruit, inherited through Latin”
Old English
Old English
palm
“Palm of the hand or palm tree, from Latin palma”
Middle English
English
date palm
“A palm tree bearing dates”
Modern English
English
date palm
“The cultivated or wild date-producing palm, especially Phoenix dactylifera”
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