Palm
/pɑːm/noun
The inner surface of the hand, or a tropical tree with a tall trunk and large evergreen leaves.
Did you know?The same ancient root gave Latin *palma* both the hand’s palm and the palm tree because the spread fingers were imagined like fronds, making the word a tiny fossil of ancient symbolism.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pel-
“To spread or flatten out”
Latin
Latin
palma
“The flat of the hand; also the palm tree”
Old French
Old French
palme
“Palm of the hand; palm tree”
Middle English
English
palm
“The inner part of the hand; later also the tree”
Modern English
English
palm
“The inner surface of the hand; a palm tree; to conceal in the hand”