doompalm (dompam)

A variety of palm, Hyphæne Thebaica, remarkable, like other species of the genus, for having a repeatedly branched stem, each branch terminating in a tuft of large fan-shaped leaves. The fruit is about the size of an apple; it has a fibrous, mealy rind, which tastes like gingerbread (whence the name gingerbread tree, sometimes applied to this palm), and is eaten by the poorer inhabitants of the places where it grows. An infusion of the rind is also used as a beverage, being cooling, slightly aperient, and beneficial in fevers. The seeds are horny, and are made into small ornaments. Ropes are made of the fibers of the leaf-stalks. The doompalm is a native of Upper Egypt and the central parts of Africa, and in some districts forms whole forests. Also Collins, Death of Col. Ro . spelled doum - palm , Doom-palm (Hyphane Thebaica). dooms (dömz), adv. [Altered toward doom, by way of explaining an obscure word, from doons, doonsin, dunze, doon, done, doyn, also doonlins (-lins=E.- ling ), very, in a great degree, "Aweel," he said, "this suld be nae sic dooms desperate busine surely." Scott , Guy Manner ing, xlv.