• PALM
n. 1. the blade of an oar …1513
n. 2. the hand of a clock …1629 obs. rare
n. 3. the knave of any suit in a pack of cards …1824 Sc.
n. 4. the sole of the foot …1845 Amer. dial.
n. 5. a bribe …L19 US sl.
n. 6. the hollow of a spade …1877 Eng. dial.
n. 7. the hand …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. 8. napalm …1991 US Vietnam war usage
vb. 1. to conceal in the palm of the hand, as in cheating at cards or dice, or in juggling …1673
vb. 2. to play a trick, to cheat; to impose upon a person …1686
vb. 3. to pass over, or receive, anything in a surreptitious manner …L17 sl.
vb. 4. to pass counterfeit money, or anything fake …18C sl.
vb. 5. to pass over money as a bribe; to bribe …1747
vb. 6. to squeeze the hand …1796 Sc.
vb. 7. to lay hands on; to finger; to handle awkwardly; to maul …1827 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 8. to pummel; to knock with the fist …1846 Eng. dial.
vb. 9. to rub the hands together …1857 Eng. dial.
vb. 10., to extend …1886 Eng. dial.
vb. 11. to climb a tree or pole simply by the assistance of hands and feet; to swarm …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
vb. 12. to strike with the open hand; to punch …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• PALMAR
adj. belonging to the palm of the hand …1656 obs. rare
• PALMARIAN
adj. that bears or is worthy to bear the palm; holding the first or highest place; of supreme or first-rate importance; most important, pre-eminent, principal, chief …1815 rare
• PALMARY
adj. 1. that bears or is worthy to bear the palm; holding the first or highest place; of supreme or first-rate importance; most important, pre-eminent, principal, chief …1657
adj. 2. pert. to the palm of the hand …1696 rare
n. a token of victory or supreme excellence, a prize …1657 obs. rare
• PALMATION
the act of touching or feeling with the palm of the hand …1688 obs.
• PALMED
adj. said of a person that is bribed …1812 UK criminals’ sl.
• PALMER
n. 1. a pilgrim who had returned from the Holy Land, in sign of which he carried a palm branch or palm leaf; also, an itinerant monk who travelled from shrine to shrine, under a perpetual vow of poverty; often used simply as an equivalent of ‘pilgrim’ …a1300
n. 2. a flat piece of wood used for striking the palm of the hand as a punishment …1387 obs.
n. 3. a palm tree …c1470 obs.
n. 4. one who palms or conceals in the hand a card, die, or other object in cheating, conjuring, etc.; a cheat who palms cards, dice, etc.; one who practices sleight of hand …1671
n. 5. a shabbily-dressed person, one who goes about looking like a tramp, either through poverty or slovenliness …1808 Sc.
n. 6. a thief that adroitly slips jewellery from the top of a showcase into his pocket …1859 US sl.
n. 7. awkward, clumsy walking …1866 Sc.
n. 8. a shoplifter …M19 sl.
n. 9. a beggar who visits shops and claims to be collecting halfpence engraved with a harp, offering the shopkeeper 13 pence for a shilling’s worth and persuading them to empty all their coppers on the counter; while they search the pile, the palmer hides as many coins as possible …M19 sl.
n. 10. anything large or outstanding of its kind; a ‘whopper’ …1929 Sc.
vb. 1. to wander; to saunter about …1805 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to wander about like a palmer or vagrant; to go about idly from place to place …1807 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
vb. 3. to move or walk clumsily and noisily; to stomp around; to blunder about …1866 Sc.
• PALMERER
n. one who walks in a clumsy, noisy manner …Bk1905 Sc.
• PALMER HOUSE
vb. to walk flat-footed …1930s African-American sl.
• PALMER HOUSES
n. flat feet …1930s African-American sl.
• PALMERING
adj. 1. wandering, aimless, vagrant, idle; walking feebly …1816 Sc.
adj. 2. awkward, bungling, clumsy, rude …1866 Sc.
• PALMERY
n. one who palms or conceals in the hand a card, die, or other object in cheating, conjuring, etc.; one who practices sleight of hand …c1290 obs.
• PALMETTO POUNDER
n. a heavy rain …1980 Amer. dial.
• PALMETUM
n. a collection of tall and graceful palms of various kinds …1854
• PALMFUL
adj. abounding in palm trees …a1618 rare
• PALM-GREASE
n. money given as a douceur or bribe …1897 humorous usage
• PALM-GREASING
n. petty bribery, tipping …1886 humorous usage
• PALMIE
n. a stroke with a strap or cane on the palm of the hand as a punishment …1787 Sc.
vb. to chastise on the palm of the hand; to administer ‘palmies’ …1825 Sc.
• PALMING
n. 1. robbing in shops by pairs, one bargains as with intent to by, while the other watches his opportunity to steal …1839 UK criminals’ sl.
n. 2. exchanging spurious articles, as watches, rings, diamonds, for real ones …1890 UK criminals’ sl.
n. 3. masturbation …1982 Bahamas sl.
• PALMING-RACKET
n. the concealing of money in one’s palm …1812 UK criminals’ sl.
• PALMIST
n. one who practices palmistry; one who professes to tell people’s characters and fortunes by examining the palms of their hands; a chiromancer …1886
• PALMISTER
n. one who practices palmistry; one who professes to tell people’s characters and fortunes by examining the palms of their hands; a chiromancer …a1500 rare
• PALMISTRY
n. 1. the use of the hands in applause …1698
n. 2. the use of the hands in pocket-picking …1711
n. 3. theft …E18 sl.
n. 4. bribery …1828
• PALMIT
n. a shoot or sprig of a vine …1657 obs. rare
• PALMITY
n. ridiculous or excessive speech; much ado about nothing …1938 Amer. dial.
• PALMITY TALK
n. ridiculous or excessive speech; much ado about nothing …1938 Amer. dial.
• PALM-OIL
n. money give as a douceur or bribe, a tip …a1627 humorous
vb. to bribe; to pay off …L19 sl.
• PALM SHINER
n. in gambling: an object that reflects the image of cards, small enough to be held in the user’s hand …1997 US sl.
• PALM SOAP
n. money, usually in the form of a bribe …E17 sl.
• PALM-TREE
n. 1. the willow …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. 2. the yew …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• PALM-WARMER
n. a person who tips …1951 US sl.
• PALMY
adj. 1. bearing or worthy to ‘bear the palm’, triumphant, flourishing, prosperous …1602
adj. 2. abounding in palms; palm-like …1667 chiefly poetic
n. a stroke on the palm of the hand, given as a punishment …1785 Sc.
vb. to cane on the palm of the hand …1876 Sc.
• PALOMINO
n. an attractive woman …1930s sl., orig. African-American usage
• PALONE
n. 1. a young woman …1934 sl., derogatory
n. 2. an effeminate man …1969 sl., derogatory
• PALONE-OMEE
n. a lesbian …2002 UK sl.
• PALONEY
n. a girl, a usually young woman …1938 UK sl.
• PALONIE
n. a circus pony used in comedy routines …1953 UK sl.
• PAL ONTO
vb. to befriend, to associate with …L19
• PALOOKA
n. 1. a boxer, occasionally a wrestler, usually one who is both large and stupid …1920s US sl.
n. 2. a large and stupid person …1920s US sl.
n. 3. a person, irrespective of size or intelligence …1920s US sl.
n. 4. an ineffectual or incompetent person …1925 sl., chiefly US
n. 5. a third-rater; a roving boxer who lives in the past …1931 US boxing sl.
n. 6. a dishonest gambler or gangster …1934 US criminals’ sl.
• PALOOKO
n. a large and stupid person …1920s US sl.
• PALOUSE
n. a makeshift lantern made by attaching a bale, horizontally, to an empty can and by inserting a candle through a hole in the side …1923 Amer. dial.
• PALOUSE LIGHTNING
n. intestinal flu …1966 Amer. dial.
• PALOUSER
n. 1. a novice or greenhorn; a country bumpkin …1903 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a makeshift lantern made by attaching a bale, horizontally, to an empty can and by inserting a candle through a hole in the side …1918 Amer. dial.
• PAL OUT (WITH)
vb. to befriend, to associate with …L19
• PALP
vb. 1. to touch, to feel; to handle gently, to pat …1534 rare
vb. 2. to speak fair to, to flatter, to cajole …1657 rare
• PALPABLE
adj. 1. that can be touched, felt, or handled; apprehensible by the sense of touch; tangible, sensible …c1384
adj. 2. readily perceived by some one of the other senses, as the sight, hearing, etc.; perceptible; plainly observable, noticeable …c1430
adj. 3. easily perceived; open to recognition; plain, evident, apparent, obvious, manifest …1545
adv. visibly …1585 obs.
• PALPABLENESS
n. manifestness …1608
• PALPABLY
adv. so as to be felt, plainly seen, observed, etc.; clearly, obviously, manifestly …1584
• PALPABRIZE
vb. to feel, to touch, to handle …1593 obs.
• PALPATORY
adj. touching, feeling with the hand …1876 rare
• PALPEBRATE
adj. having eyelids …1857 rare
• PALPEBRE
n. an eyelid …1541 obs. rare
• PALPEBROUS
adj. having large eyebrows …1846 rare
• PALPED
adj. felt; apprehended by the touch …1609 obs.
• PALPITANT
adj. palpitating …1837
• PALSEY-WALSEY
adj. having a friendly relationship with connotations of excessive or conspiratorial friendship …1947 sl., orig. US, often derogatory
n. a friend, connoting excessive or conspiratorial friendship…1937 sl., orig. US, often derogatory
• PALSH
vb. to patch, to mend; to patch clothes untidily …1790 Eng. dial.
• PALSHALLALS
n. the diarrhoea …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• PALSICAL
adj. pert. to the palsy; paralytic …1716 obs.
• PALSIE
n. a friend, esp. as a term of address …1930s sl., orig. US
• PALSIE-WALSIE
adj. having a friendly relationship with connotations of excessive or conspiratorial friendship …1947 sl., orig. US, often derogatory
n. a friend, connoting excessive or conspiratorial friendship …1937 sl., orig. US, often derogatory
• PALSIFICATION
n. paralyzing action …1866
• PALSIFIED
adj. palsied …1887 Sc.
• PALSIFY
vb. to afflict with palsy, to paralyze …1775 rare
• PAL SQUAD
n. a dog squad used for searching cells …1980s Aust. prison sl.
• PALSTER
n. a pilgrim’s staff …1481 obs.
• PALSY
adj. 1. palsied, affected with palsy …1563 obs.
adj. 2. having a friendly relationship …1962 US sl.
n. 1. a palsied person; a paralytic …a1300 obs.
n. 2. any influence which destroys, or seriously impairs activity or sensibility; a condition of utter powerlessness; an irresistible tremor …1433
n. 3. a friend, esp. as a term of address …1930s sl., orig. US
vb. 1. to shake or tremble as if palsied …1582 nonce use
vb. 2. to render powerless, helpless, or inert …1615
• PALSY ONE’S BRAIN
vb. to bewilder …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• PALSY-STROKE
n. an attack or fit of paralysis …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• PALSY-WALSY
adj. having a friendly relationship with connotations of excessive or conspiratorial friendship …1937 sl., orig. US, often derogatory
n. a friend, connoting excessive or conspiratorial friendship …1937 sl., orig. US, often derogatory
• PALT
n. 1. a blow, a stroke …1625 obs.
n. 2. refuse, rubbish …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
vb. 1. to thrust, to put forcibly …a1380 obs.
vb. 2. to go with effort, to trudge …1560 obs.
vb. 3. to strike with repeated blows of missiles; to assail with missiles …1579 obs.
vb. 4. to deliver repeated blows; to discharge missiles …1606 obs.
vb. 5. to assail with obloquy or reproaches …1697 obs.
vb. 6. to mend …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• PALTCH
vb. to half-cure a sick person …1846 Eng. dial.
• PALTER
vb. 1. to speak indistinctly or idly; to say or recite in an indistinct tone; to mumble, to mutter, to babble …1538 obs.
vb. 2. to shift or alter in position; to change …1577 obs.
vb. 3. to jumble up; to patch up a composition; to compose hastily …1588 obs. rare
vb. 4. to shift, to shuffle, to equivocate, to prevaricate in statement or dealing; to deal crookedly or evasively; to play fast and loose, to use trickery …1601
vb. 5. to shuffle or haggle in bargaining; to huckster, bargain, or parley in matters of duty or honour …1611
vb. 6. to squander, to trifle away …1625 obs.
vb. 7. to barter; to corrupt, to bribe …1641 obs.
vb. 8. to hesitate, to prevaricate; to play fast and loose …1671 Eng. dial.
vb. 9. to play fast and loose with a matter or thing; to dilly-dally, to trifle with …1814
vb. 10. to wreck or pilfer stranded vessels and ill-use shipwrecked sailors …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• PALTERER
n. 1. an equivocator; a shuffler; one who plays fast and loose; a haggler, a huckster; one who acts evasively …1589
n. 2. a trifler with serious matters …1642
• PALTERING
adj. trifling, worthless, despicable, paltry …1553 obs.
n. equivocation, shuffling, playing fast and loose; trifling with serious matters …1600
• PALTERINGS
n. trifles, worthless or paltry things …1611 obs.
• PALTERLY
adj. paltry, mean, shabby, worthless, mean…1666-7 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
adv. shiftily, trickily …1598 obs. rare
• PALTHERLY
adj. paltry, worthless, mean …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• PALTHOGUE
n. a blow …1884 N. Ireland
• PALTING
adj. petty, trifling, paltry …1579 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
• PALTOCK’S INN
n. a mean or inhospitable place …1579 obs. rare
• PALTREMENT
n. worthless stuff, rubbish …1641 obs. rare
• PALTRER
n. an equivocator; a shuffler; one who plays fast and loose; a haggler, a huckster; one who acts evasively …1589
• PALTRIPOLITAN
n. an unimportant, paltry, mean, or contemptible city person …1588 obs.
• PALTRY
adj. unwell, feeble, indisposed …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. refuse, rubbish, trash; anything worthless …1556 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
• PALUDAL
adj. pert. to a marsh or fen; produced by or arising from a marsh …1818-20 chiefly medical usage
• PALUDE
n. a marsh, a fen …1412-20 obs. rare
• PALUDIATE
adj. pert. to marshes …1632 obs.
• PALUDIC
adj. pert. to marshes …1897
• PALUDICOLE
adj. inhabiting marshes …1857
• PALUDICOLINE
adj. inhabiting marshes …1857
• PALUDICOLOUS
adj. inhabiting marshes …1857
• PALUDINAL
adj. pert. to a marsh …1858
• PALUDINE
adj. pert. to a marsh …1858
• PALUDINOUS
adj. pert. to a marsh …1866
• PALUDIOUS
adj. pert. to marshes …1594
• PALUDOSE
adj. belonging to marshes, marshy; inhabiting marshes …1866 rare
• PALUDOUS
adj. belonging to marshes, marshy; inhabiting marshes …1803 rare
• PALUS
n. a marsh, a fen; an abyss …1471 obs. rare
• PALUSCHE
n. a marsh, a fen; an abyss …1471 obs. rare
• PALUSTRAL
adj. pert. to or inhabiting marshes …1879 rare
• PALUSTRIAN
adj. pert. to or inhabiting marshes …1787 rare
n. an animal that lives in a marsh …1607 rare
• PALUSTRINE
adj. inhabiting marshes …1882
• PALUKA
n. an oaf; an unskilled prizefighter …20C US sl.
• PAL UP
vb. to form a friendship; to keep company, to associate with …1879 sl.
• PAL WITH
vb. to befriend, to associate with …L19
• PALY
adj. pale or somewhat pale …c1560 chiefly poetic usage
• PALYIR
n. a dwelling, abode, home …1879 Sc.
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