to grease the palm of

to grease the palm of
palm palm (p[aum]m), n. [OE. paume, F. paume, L. palma, Gr. pala`mh, akin to Skr. p[=a][.n]i hand, and E. fumble. See {Fumble}, {Feel}, and cf. 2d {Palm}.] 1. (Anat.) The inner and somewhat concave part of the hand between the bases of the fingers and the wrist. [1913 Webster]

Clench'd her fingers till they bit the palm. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

2. A lineal measure equal either to the breadth of the hand or to its length from the wrist to the ends of the fingers; a hand; -- used in measuring a horse's height. [1913 Webster]

Note: In Greece, the palm was reckoned at three inches. The Romans adopted two measures of this name, the lesser palm of 2.91 inches, and the greater palm of 8.73 inches. At the present day, this measure varies in the most arbitrary manner, being different in each country, and occasionally varying in the same. --Internat. Cyc. [1913 Webster]

3. (Sailmaking) A metallic disk, attached to a strap, and worn on the palm of the hand, -- used to push the needle through the canvas, in sewing sails, etc. [1913 Webster]

4. (Zo["o]l.) The broad flattened part of an antler, as of a full-grown fallow deer; -- so called as resembling the palm of the hand with its protruding fingers. [1913 Webster]

5. (Naut.) The flat inner face of an anchor fluke. [1913 Webster]

{to grease the palm of}, v. t. To bribe or tip. [Slang] [Webster 1913 Suppl.]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • grease\ the\ palm — • grease one s palm • grease the palm slang 1. To pay a person for something done or given, especially dishonestly; bribe. Some politicians will help you if you grease their palms. 2. To give a tip; pay for a special favor or extra help. We had… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • grease the palm of someone — grease the palm of (someone) (or US grease the hand of (someone)) : to give (someone) money for doing something illegal or dishonest for you They had to grease the palms of a few inspectors at city hall to get the permits they needed to start… …   Useful english dictionary

  • grease the palm of — ► grease the palm of informal bribe. Main Entry: ↑grease …   English terms dictionary

  • grease the palm of — informal bribe (someone) * * * grease the palm of (someone) (or US grease the hand of (someone)) : to give (someone) money for doing something illegal or dishonest for you They had to grease the palms of a few inspectors at city hall to get the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • grease the palm — Synonyms and related words: approach, bribe, buy, buy off, come across, come across with, come down with, come through with, corrupt, cough up, fix, fork over, get at, get to, grease, kick in, lay on one, pay off, plunk down, pony up, post,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • grease the palm of — phrasal see grease the hand of …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • grease the palm — phrasal see grease the hand …   Useful english dictionary

  • grease the palm of — informal bribe. [grease expressing the sense cause to run smoothly and palm, by assoc. with the taking of money.] → grease …   English new terms dictionary

  • grease the hand of — or grease the palm of phrasal bribe …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • grease the hand — phrasal or grease the palm : bribe, tip …   Useful english dictionary

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