Bible dictionaries

Palm

What Bible dictionaries say about “Palm”, one article after the other.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary & Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

Palm - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

PALM, n. p`am.. [L. palma.]

1. The inner part of the hand.

2. A hand or hand's breadth; a lineal measure of three inches.

3. The broad triangular part of an anchor at the end of the arms.

4. The name of many species of plants, but particularly of the date-tree or great palm, a native of Asia and Africa.

The palms constitute a natural order of monocotyledonous plants,with a simple cylindric stem, terminating in a crown of leaves or fronds, within which rises a tuft of flowers and fruits; all natives of warm climates. They vary in size from 2 to more than 100 feet in highth.

5. Branches of the palm being worn in token of victory, hence the word signifies superiority, victory, triumph. The palm was adopted as an emblem of victory, it is said, because the tree is so elastic as when pressed, to rise and recover its correct position.

Namur subdued is England's palm alone.

6. Among seamen, an instrument used in sewing canvas instead of a thimble.

PALM, v.t. p`am. To conceal in the palm of the hand.

They palmed the trick that lost the game.

1. To impose by fraud.

For you may palm upon us new for old.

2. To handle.

3. To stroke with the hand.

Matthew George Easton, Easton’s Bible Dictionary; Noah Webster, American Dictionary of the English Language (1828)

The article in Easton + Webster 1828

Translation Words

Definition

The term “palm” refers to a type of tall tree with long, flexible, leafy branches extending from the top in a fan-like pattern.

  • The palm tree in the Bible usually refers to a type of palm tree that produces a fruit called a “date.” The leaves have a feather-like pattern.
  • Palm trees typically grow in places that have a hot, humid climate. Their leaves stay green all year long.
  • As Jesus was entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey, the people laid palm branches on the ground in front of him.
  • Palm branches signified peace and the celebration of a victory.

(See also: donkey, Jerusalem, peace)

Bible References

Word Data

The original work by unfoldingWord is available from https://www.unfoldingword.org/utw. Bible Strong converted the Markdown and resource links to its dictionary schema and normalized Bible references.

The article in Translation Words