Palmer
/ˈpɑːmər/noun
A pilgrim who has returned from the Holy Land, especially one who carried a palm branch as a sign of pilgrimage.
Did you know?The word comes from the palm branch pilgrims brought back from the Holy Land, and in medieval Europe that token became a visible sign of a vow kept, almost like sacred proof of a completed journey.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pel-
“to spread, flatten”
Latin
Latin
palma
“the palm of the hand; a palm tree”
Late Latin
Late Latin
palmārius
“one associated with palms; a pilgrim bearing a palm branch”
Old French
Old French
paumier / palmier
“a pilgrim returning from the Holy Land with a palm branch”
Middle English
English
palmer
“a pilgrim, especially one who had been to the Holy Land and worn a palm as a token”
Modern English
English
palmer
“a pilgrim from the Holy Land; also a surname”