palm1 (pam)

[Early mod. E. also paum; ult. E. fumble, q. v. Hence ult. palm2.] 1. The flat of the hand; that part of the hand which extends from the wrist to the bases of the thumb and fingers on the side opposite the knuckles; more generally and technically, the palmar surface of the manus of any animal, as the sole of the fore foot of a clawed quadruped, as the cat or palm mouse, corresponding to the planta of the pes or foot. In man the palm is fleshy, and presents two special eminences, the thenar (ball of the thumb) and, opposite to it, the hypo thenar, mainly due to the bulk of the subjacent muscles. The habitual tendency of the fingers in grasping and holding throws the skin into numerous creases, several principal ones being quite constant in position. The character of these creases, in all their detail and variation in different individuals, is the chief basis of chirognomy or palmistry. See phrases under line2. Therwith the pous and paumes of his hondes They gan to froote and wete his temples tweyne. Chaucer, Troilus, iii. 1114. With yche a pawe as a poste, and paumes fulle huge. Morte Arthure (E. E. T. S.), L. 776. 2t. The hand; a hand. Ther apered a paume , with poyntel in fyngres That watz grysly & gret, & gyrmly he wrytes. Alliterative Poems (ed. Morris), ii. 1533. 3. A lineal measure equal either to the breadth of the hand or to its length from the wrist to the tips of the fingers; a measure of length equal to 3 and in some instances 4 inches; among the Romans, a lineal measure equal to about 84 inches, corresponding to the length of the hand. During that triumvirate of kings, King Henry VIII. of England, Francis I., king of France, and Charles V., emperor, there was such a watch kept that none of the three could win a palm of ground but the other two would Bacon , Empire (ed. 1887). straightways balance it. 4. A part that covers the inner portion of the hand: as, the palm of a glove; specifically, an instrument used by sailmakers and seamen in C Sailmakers' Palm. a, palm-leather; d, thumb-hole; c, metal shield fastened to palm leather; d, small countersinks, into some one of which the butt of the needle enters in sewing to prevent the needle from slipping. sewing canvas, instead of a thimble, consisting of a piece of leather that goes round the hand, with a piece of iron sewed on it so as to rest in the palm.-5. The broad (usually triangular) part of an anchor at the end of the arms.-6. The flat or palmate part of a deer's horns when full-grown. The forehead of the gote Held out a wondrous goodly pal me , that sixteene branches brought. Chapman , Iliad, iv. 124. 71. An old game, a kind of hand-tennis, more fully called palm - play . Also, that no maner persone pleye at the pame or at tenys, withyn the yeld halle of the seid cite. English Gilds (E. E. T. S.), p. 387. 8t. A ball. Paume to play at tennys with, [F.] paul me. Palsgrave. An itching palm. See itch.- Oil of palms. See oil. To cro one's palm. Same as to cro one's hand (which see, under cro 81). - To gild (one's) palm, to give money to; fee; "tip." He accounts them very honest Tikes, and can with all safety trust his Life in their Hands, for now and then Gild ing their Palms for the good Services they do him. Quoted in Ashton's Social Life in Reign of Queen Anne, (IL. 220. To grease the palm of. See grease. palm1 (päm), v . t. [ palm1 , n.] 1. To handle; manipulate. Our Cards and we are equal Tools. We sure in vain the Cards condemn: Our selves both cut and shuffl'd them... But Space and Matter we should blame; They palm'd the Trick that lost the Game. Prior , Alma, ii. Frank carves very ill, yet will palm all the Meats. Prior , Epigrams. 2. To conceal in the palm of the hand, in the manner of jugglers or cheaters.-3. To impose by fraud: generally followed by upon before the person and off before the thing: as, to palm of trash upon the public. What is palmed upon you daily for an imitation of Eastern writing no way resembles their manner. Goldsmith, Citizen of the World, xxxiii.