noun
Common
Palmer
PAH-muh
Palmer (noun) means Historically, a pilgrim returning from the Holy Land, traditionally carrying a palm branch as proof of the journey. Example: “The old ballad tells of a palmer returning from Jerusalem.”
noun
1
Historically, a pilgrim returning from the Holy Land, traditionally carrying a palm branch as proof of the journey.
"The old ballad tells of a palmer returning from Jerusalem."
2
A flat wooden or leather strap once used to strike a schoolchild's palm as punishment.
"The old schoolmaster kept a palmer in his desk drawer."
3
A card or dice cheat who conceals and switches items by palming them.
"The dealer was caught as a palmer, hiding cards up his sleeve."
verb
1
In fly fishing, to wind a hackle feather along the length of a hook shank when tying a fly.
"He palmered the feather carefully to build up the fly's body."
name
1
A common English surname and given name.
How to use Palmer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often a surname; historically also a Holy Land pilgrim, and a fly-tying technique.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Palmers
- Third person singular
- palmers
- Past tense
- palmered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old ballad tells of a _____ returning from Jerusalem.
Etymology
From Middle English palmer, "a pilgrim from the Holy Land," referencing the palm branch pilgrims carried home.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Palmer
See all rhymes for Palmer →Frequently asked questions
What does “Palmer” mean?
The word “Palmer” means historically, a pilgrim returning from the Holy Land, traditionally carrying a palm branch as proof of the journey. In plain terms, most often a surname; historically also a Holy Land pilgrim, and a fly-tying technique.
How do you pronounce “Palmer”?
“Palmer” is pronounced PAH-muh (/ˈpɑmɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Palmer” in a sentence?
Here is “Palmer” used in a sentence: “The old ballad tells of a palmer returning from Jerusalem.”
What part of speech is “Palmer”?
Depending on how it is used, “Palmer” can be a noun, a verb and a name.
Where does the word “Palmer” come from?
The word “Palmer” comes from Middle English. From Middle English palmer, "a pilgrim from the Holy Land," referencing the palm branch pilgrims carried home.
Is “Palmer” a common word?
“Palmer” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Palmer” have?
“Palmer” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: historically, a pilgrim returning from the Holy Land, traditionally carrying a palm branch as proof of the journey.
What was a palmer in historical use?
A palmer was a pilgrim returning from the Holy Land, traditionally carrying a palm branch as proof of the journey. The palm acted as a visible sign that the pilgrimage had actually been completed.
What is the difference between a palmer and a pilgrim?
A pilgrim is anyone who travels to a holy place. A palmer was specifically a pilgrim returning from the Holy Land, identified by the palm branch carried as evidence of the journey. Every palmer was a pilgrim, but not every pilgrim was a palmer.
What is a palmer in card games?
A palmer is a card or dice cheat who conceals and switches items by palming them, that is, hiding them in the palm of the hand. The word comes directly from that sleight-of-hand sense of the verb palm.
