palmetto 
ze. Acropolis of Athens. 
/<". whose leafstalks on decaying 
of textile use. 
nese Trachyearpui t: 
leave a fibrous mattei 
During our voyage we llued on nothing else but raxpices, 
of a certalne round graine little and blacke, and of the 
rootes of palinitos which we got by the riuer Bide. 
Hakluyt'i Voyages, III. S42. 
Blue palmetto, Raphidophyllmn Hystrix of South Caro- 
lina, Georgia, and Florida, a species with an erect or creep- 
ing stem, 2 or 3 feet long, and leaves circular in outline. 
Cabbage-palmetto, see def . above. Dwarf palmet- 
to, Sabal Adamtoni, of the southeastern United States, 
with creeping or buried stem. See def. above, and ttaw-ptil- 
metttt. Humble palmetto, a West Indian tree. Carlit- 
dorica iiutitfiiin. Palmetto flag, the flag of the State of 
South Carolina, which, from the occurrence in it of a vari- 
ety of dwarf palm or palmetto, is called the Palmetto State. 
Royal palmetto. () Sabal umbraciilifera of the West 
Indies, also called bitj or butt thatch, from the use made of 
the leaves. It is a flue tree, growing Ml feet or more high, 
(ft) Same as 8ilk-to}> palmetto. Saw-palmetto, a form of 
the dwarf palmetto with creeping stem and spiny-edged 
petioles. Silk-top palmetto, the name in Florida of 
Thriiiax parviflora,, found there and in the West Indies: a 
tree some SO feet high, turned to minor uses. Called in 
the West Indies royal palmetto. Silver-top palmetto, 
the name in Florida of Thrinax aryentea, a tree of the same 
range and size as the last, the leaves silvery-silky beneath. 
Its uses resemble those of the cabbage-palmetto. Also 
called I'firklfii and brittle thatch. Small palmetto, a 
name of the palm-like genus Carlwlmica of the natural 
order Cyclanthacefe. 
palmetum (pal-me'tum), . [NL., < L. palme- 
tiim, a palm-grove, < palma, palm: see|>atoi 2 .] 
A palm-house. 
palm-fiber (pam'fi*br),H. Fiber obtained from 
the leaves of the palmyra, carnauba, and other 
palms. 
palm-honey (piim'hun'i), . See coquito. 
palm-house (pam'hous), . A glass house for 
growing palms and other tropical plants. 
palmic (pal'mik), a. [< palm* + -if.] Same as 
palmitic. 
palmicolous (pal-mik'o-lus), a. [NL., < L. 
piilma, palm, + colere, inhabit.] Growing on 
the palm-tree. TJiomas, Med. Diet. 
palmiferous (pal-mif 'e-rus), o. [= F. nalmifere 
= Sp. palm if tiro = Pg. It. palmtfero, < L. palmi- 
fer, palm-bearing, < palma, palm, + ferre = E. 
oenri.J Bearing or producing palms. 
palmification (paFmi-fi-ka'shon), n. [< L. 
palma, palm, + -ficare, <.facere, make (see -fy).~] 
See the quotation, and compare caprijication. 
The Babylonians suspended male clusters from wild 
dates over the females ; but they seem to have supposed 
that the fertility thus produced depended on the presence 
of small flics among the wild flowers, which, by entering 
the female flowers, caused them to set and ripen. The 
process was called pairnijtcatioii. Encyc. Brit., IV. 82. 
palmiform (pal'mi-lorm), a. [= F. It. /iniini- 
forme, < L. palma, the palm of the hand, + 
forma, form.] Same as palmatiform. 
palmigrade (pal'mi-grad), a. [< L. palma, the 
palm of the hand, the sole of the foot (of a 
web-footed bird), + gradi, walk.] Walking on 
the soles of the feet ; plantigrade. 
palmine (pal'min), n. [< palm 2 + -ie 2 .] Same 
as ptilniitiii. 
palminerve (pal'mi-nerv), a. [< L. palma. 
palm. + iicrnia, nerve.] Same as palminerrtd. 
palminerved (pal'mi-n6rvd), a. [< palminerve 
+ -frf 2 .] In bot., palmately nerved. See ner- 
ration. 
palmiped, palmipede (pal'mi-ped, -ped), o. 
and H. [= F. piumipedc = Pg. It. /><f//i/(/r, 
< L. /><ilini/iiH (i>iilmii>nl-), broad-footed, web- 
footed, < palma, the palm of the hand, the sole 
4240 
of the foot (of a web-footed bird), + pru (ped-) 
= K. fun!.] I. a. Web- footed, ;is a liinl ; hav- 
ing the toen webbed or palmate; of or pertain- 
ing to the 1'almipedea. Bee second cut under 
/Hi/mate. 
II. H. A web-footed bird; any member of 
till' I'liliili/H-ili-x. 
Palmipedat (pal-mip'e-dK), . pi. [NL., irreg. 
neut. pi. of 1'iilniipes: see'palmiped.] 1. InBlu- 
iiK-n Icx-li's classification, a singular association 
of web-footed carnivores, edentates, rodents, 
sin'tiians, and mouotremes in one order, the 
eighth. Thus it contained seals and walruses, 
otters, beavers, manatees and dugongs, and 
the ornithorhynchus. 2. In niiger's classifi- 
cation {1811), a family of his Prensiculantia, 
containing the web-footed rodents only, as cer- 
tain water-rats (Uydromys) and the beaver. 
Palmipedes (pal-mip'e-dez), n.pl. [NL., pi. of 
L. palmipi-x, broad-footed: see palmiiied.] An 
order founded by Schaeffer in 1774, and in 
Cuvier's system the sixth order of birds, cor- 
responding to the Anseres of Linneeus and the 
Natatores of Illiger; web-footed or swimming 
birds. 
palmipedoust (pal-mip'e-dus), a. [< palmiped 
+ nun.'] Same as palmiped. Sir T. Brotcrie, 
Vulg. Err., iv. 1. 
Palmipes (pal'mi-pez), n. [NL., < L. palmipes, 
broad-footed, web-footed.] Same as Asteriseus. 
palmist (pal'mist or pa'mist), n. and a. [< 
palm* + -ist.] I. n. Same &apalmister: now 
more often used. 
II. a. Of or pertaining to palmisters or pal- 
mistry: as, the palmist art. 
palfflister (pal'mis-tr), n. [Sometimes palm- 
ster, as if < palm + -ster ; < palm 1 + -ist (cf. pal- 
mist) + -trX] One who deals in palmistry, or 
pretends to tell fortunes by the palm of the 
hand, especially by its lines. 
Deceiving and decelvable palmstert, who will undertake 
by the view of the hand to be as expert in foretelling the 
course of life to come to others as they are ignorant of 
their own in themselves. Ford, Line of Life. 
palmistry (pal'mis-tri), n. [< palmist + -ry.] 
1. The art or practice of telling fortunes by a 
feigned interpretation of lines and marks on the 
palm of the hand. Also called chirognomy and 
chiromancy. See phrases under line*. 
We shall not proceed to query what truth is in palmit- 
'"/. or divination from those lines in our hands of high 
denomination. Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., v. 24. 
With the fond Maids in Palmistry he deals; 
They tell the Secret first which he reveals. 
Prior, Henry and Emma. 
2. Manual dexterity. [Humorous.] 
He found his pocket was picked : that being a kind of 
lii,ui*trii at which this race of vermin [gipsies] are very 
dexterous. Additon, Spectator, No. 130. 
palmitate (pal'mi-tat). . [< palmit(ic) + -atei.] 
A salt of palmitic acid. 
palmite (pal'mit), n. [< NL. Palmita: see 
palmetto.] A rush-like plant, Prionium Pal- 
mita, of South Africa, the leaves of which af- 
ford a very tenacious fiber. 
palmitic (pal-mit'ik), a. [= F. palmitique; as 
palm* + -fc 2 + -c.] Pertaining to or obtain- 
ed from palm-oil. Also palmic palmitic add, 
<' i p,M:;-_ i( '-j- ;ln ftcid existing as a glycerin ether in palm- 
oil and in most of the solid fats. The acid forms fine 
white needles, or pearly crystalline scales. 
palmitin (pal'mi-tin), n. [= F. palmitinc; as 
palnfi + -ite 2 + -in 2 .] The principal solid 
ingredient of palm-oil, 
Palm o,l Tree ( 
rntu). 
solid colorless crystalline substance, melting 
at about 45 C. : it is the triglyceride of pal- 
mitic acid. Also palmine. 
palmitot, . An obsolete form of palmetto. 
palmi-veined (pal'mi-vand), a. In bot., having 
the veins arranged in a palmate manner. 
palm-kale (pam'kal), n. An Italian variety of 
borecole, grown also in the Channel Islands. 
It reaches the height of 10 or 12 feet, and bears Its leaves, 
which are curved, at the top, thus imitating a palm. 
palm-leaf (pam'lef), n. 1. The leaf of a palm. 
Hence 2. A fan made from a dried palm-leaf, 
particularly from a leaf of the fan-palm or of 
the palmetto ; a palm-leaf fan. [Colloq., U. 8.] 
The slave . . . filled the bowl of a long-stemmed chi- 
bouk. and, handing it to his master, retired behind him, 
and began to fan him with the most prodigious paltn-Uqf I 
ever saw. C. D. Warner, Backlog Studies, p. 283. 
Palm-leaf fan. See def. 2. 
palm-lily (piim'lil'i), . See Cordyline. 
palm-marten (pam'niar'ten), n. Same aspalm- 
i;it. 
palm-matet (piim'mat), . f < MIX palm-maete, 
:\ tVrule, prop, 'iialmaete (E. 'palmate), etc., < 
ML. palma ta, a slap or blow on the hand (pal- 
palmy 
mnti'iiiiii, a I'rrulc or whip), < L. /<//, the palm 
of the hand: nee palm 1 7] Same an/erute'. 
palm-oil (pam'oil), n. A fatty substance ob- 
i a i HIM! from several species of palms, but chiefly 
from the t'ruit of the oil- 
palm, Klieix UuinefMxix, of 
western Africa, in cool 
climates It acquires the con- 
sistence of butter, and In of ui 
orange-yellow color. It U em- 
ployed In the manufacture of 
soap and candles, and for lubri- 
cating machinery, the wheels 
of railway-carriages, etc. By 
the natives of the Hold Coast 
this oil Is used as butter, and 
when eaten fresh It U pleas- 
ant and wholesome. Also 
called i*ilin butler. 
palmosseus (pal-mos'e- 
UK). . ; pi. palmonsci (-i). 
[NL., < L. palma, the 
nand, + osseuti, of bone: 
see OSXCOUM.] An inter- 
osseous muscle of the 
palm : distinguishedfrom 
tlornosseug. Cones. 
palm-playt (pam'pla),. 
An old game of ball played with the handj a 
kind of tennis in which the ball was struck with 
the hand and not with a racket or bat. Also 
palm-playing and palm. 
During the reign of Charles V. palm play, which may 
properly enough be denominated hand-tennis, was exceed- 
ingly fashionable In France, being played by the nobility 
for large sums of money. 
AYnitt, Sports aud Pastimes, p. 160. 
palm-playing (pam'pla'ing), n. Same as paint- 
play. 
He comes upon 
The women at their palm-playing. 
D. (3. Rouctti, Dante at Verona. 
palmster (pam'ster), n. Same as palmister. 
palm-sugar (patn'sbug'ar), n. Sugar obtained 
from palm-sap : same as jaggery. 
Palm Sunday (pam sun'da). The Sunday next 
before Easter, being the sixth Sunday in Lent 
and the first day of Holy Week. Its observance, 
in commemoration of Christ's triumphal entry into Jeru- 
salem, Is as old as the fourth century In the Eastern 
Church, and as the fifth or sixth century in the West- 
ern. By the sixth or seventh century formal processions 
had become customary, which the Oreek and the Roman 
Catholic churches have retained. The popular observ- 
ance of the day by carrying branches of willow or other 
trees continued In many places in England after the Ref- 
ormation, and the custom of solemnly blessing and dis- 
tributing palm and other branches and carrying them in 
procession has been revived In many Anglican churches. 
palm-tree (piim'tre), n. [< l&E.palmetre, < AS. 
palm-tre6w (= Icel. palmtre = Sw. palmtra), 
< palm, palm, + treoic, tree.] A tree of the 
order Palmte. See palnfi and Palmse^. . 
palmula (pal'mu-lS), n. ; p\.palmulx(-\e). [NL., 
dim. of L. palma, the palm of the hand: see 
jnilii'1.] In musical instruments with a key- 
board, a finger-key or digital. 
palm-veined (pam'vand), a. In lint., palmately 
nerved. See nervation. 
palm- viper (pam' vi'p*r), n. A venomous snake 
of South America, Craspedocfphalus bilineatux. 
palm-warbler (pam'war'blr), . Dendroecn 
palmarum, a very common warbler of the east- 
ern parts of the United States, belonging to the 
family Sylvicolidie or Mniotiltidie. it is from 6 to 
5} inches long, and about 8 In extent of wings ; the male 
is brownish-olive above, with dusky streaks, the rump 
yellowish, the cap chestnut-brown, the under parts rich- 
yellow with reddish streaks, the two outer pairs of tail- 
feathers with square white spots at the ends of their in- 
ner webs, and the wings without white bars The bird is 
Insectivorous and migratory, breeding In northern New 
England and thence northward, wintering from the Ctro- 
linus and Texas to the West Indies. It nests on the ground, 
and has somewhat the terrestrial habits of a titlark. Also 
called ytttow red-poll irarbltr. 
palm-wasp (pam'wosp), n. A wasp, Polybius 
palmarum, which makes its nest in palms. See 
cut under Polybitis. 
palm-wax (pftm'waks), n. A substance se- 
creted by the wax-palm. See Ceroxylo*. An- 
other palm affords the camsuba-wax. largely used In place 
of beeswax. Sec camauba and Coprrniaa. 
palm-wine (pani'win), n. Same as toddy, 1. 
Compare arrack. 
palm-worm (pam'werm), n. A kind of centiped 
found in America, of large size. Imp. Diet. 
palmy (pa'mi), a. [<pao 2 + -y 1 .] 1. Bear- 
ing or abounding in palms. 
Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks 
Grazing the tender herb, were interposed, 
Or palmy hillock. Milton, P. L, Iv. 254. 
2. Of or derived from the palm. 
The naked negro . . . 
Boasts of his golden sands and palmy wine. 
OoUmilh, traveller, 1. 70. 
