Palm

Palm Palm, n. [AS. palm, L. palma; -- so named fr. the leaf resembling a hand. See 1st {Palm}, and cf. {Pam}.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Bot.) Any endogenous tree of the order {Palm[ae]} or {Palmace[ae]}; a palm tree. [1913 Webster]

Note: Palms are perennial woody plants, often of majestic size. The trunk is usually erect and rarely branched, and has a roughened exterior composed of the persistent bases of the leaf stalks. The leaves are borne in a terminal crown, and are supported on stout, sheathing, often prickly, petioles. They are usually of great size, and are either pinnately or palmately many-cleft. There are about one thousand species known, nearly all of them growing in tropical or semitropical regions. The wood, petioles, leaves, sap, and fruit of many species are invaluable in the arts and in domestic economy. Among the best known are the date palm, the cocoa palm, the fan palm, the oil palm, the wax palm, the palmyra, and the various kinds called cabbage palm and palmetto. [1913 Webster]

2. A branch or leaf of the palm, anciently borne or worn as a symbol of victory or rejoicing. [1913 Webster]

A great multitude . . . stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palme in their hands. --Rev. vii. 9. [1913 Webster]

3. Hence: Any symbol or token of superiority, success, or triumph; also, victory; triumph; supremacy. ``The palm of martyrdom.'' --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

So get the start of the majestic world And bear the palm alone. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{Molucca palm} (Bot.), a labiate herb from Asia ({Molucella l[ae]vis}), having a curious cup-shaped calyx.

{Palm cabbage}, the terminal bud of a cabbage palm, used as food.

{Palm cat} (Zo["o]l.), the common paradoxure.

{Palm crab} (Zo["o]l.), the purse crab.

{Palm oil}, a vegetable oil, obtained from the fruit of several species of palms, as the African oil palm ({El[ae]is Guineensis}), and used in the manufacture of soap and candles. See {El[ae]is}.

{Palm swift} (Zo["o]l.), a small swift ({Cypselus Batassiensis}) which frequents the palmyra and cocoanut palms in India. Its peculiar nest is attached to the leaf of the palmyra palm.

{Palm toddy}. Same as {Palm wine}.

{Palm weevil} (Zo["o]l.), any one of mumerous species of very large weevils of the genus {Rhynchophorus}. The larv[ae] bore into palm trees, and are called {palm borers}, and {grugru worms}. They are considered excellent food.

{Palm wine}, the sap of several species of palms, especially, in India, of the wild date palm ({Ph[oe]nix sylvestrix}), the palmyra, and the {Caryota urens}. When fermented it yields by distillation arrack, and by evaporation jaggery. Called also {palm toddy}.

{Palm worm}, or {Palmworm}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The larva of a palm weevil. (b) A centipede. [1913 Webster]