Palmer
Noun: 1. A pilgrim who has returned from the Holy Land carrying a palm branch as a sign of having made the journey: Historically, a "palmer" was a Christian pilgrim who traveled to the Holy Land. Upon returning, they would carry a palm frond or wear a palm leaf as a token or badge of their completed pilgrimage. 2. A wandering religious votary; a friar: More broadly, it can refer to a monk or religious figure who travels from place to place, often living on alms. 3. (Archaic) A person who palms or conceals something, especially a cheat in a card game: This is an obsolete usage referring to someone who uses sleight of hand, such as hiding a card in their palm.
- Noun (Historical Pilgrim):
- In medieval tales, the old palmer shared stories of his journey to Jerusalem.
- The badge of the palmer was a palm leaf sewn onto his cloak.
- Noun (Wandering Religious Figure):
- The village welcomed the palmer, offering him food and shelter for the night.
- Noun (Archaic, Cheat):
- The gambler was exposed as a palmer who hid aces in his hand.
- "Palmer" as a surname: The term is also a common English surname, which often originated from the occupational name for someone who had been a pilgrim to the Holy Land.
- Arnold Palmer was one of golf's most charismatic figures.
- Palm (noun): The inner surface of the hand between the wrist and fingers; also, a type of tropical tree (like a date palm or coconut palm). The pilgrim meaning is derived from the palm tree branch.
- Pilgrim (noun): A person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons. A "palmer" is a specific type of pilgrim.
- Palmerworm (noun): An archaic or dialectal term for a type of caterpillar, particularly one that is hairy or destructive to foliage.
- Pilgrim: A traveler to a holy site.
- Votary: A person bound by religious vows; a devoted follower.
- Wanderer: One who travels aimlessly.
- (Archaic) Cheat, cardsharp: A person who deceives, especially in games.
The primary and most historically significant meaning is the pilgrim returning from the Holy Land. The meaning of a wandering monk is closely related. The archaic meaning of a cheat is derived from the verb "to palm" (to conceal in the palm of the hand) and is largely obsolete. When encountered in modern contexts, "Palmer" is most frequently a proper noun (a surname).
- United States golfer (born in 1929)