palmer

n. a person in the past who traveled to the Holy Land and carried a palm branch to show they had been there.

n. a medieval pilgrim who had returned from the Holy Land carrying a palm branch as a sign of having fulfilled their vow.

“In the old story, a weary palmer arrived at the castle seeking food and a place to sleep.”

“The poet describes the palmer as a figure of quiet devotion, his tattered cloak and palm branch marking a lifetime of sacred travel.”

Archaic · Literary

n. a flat wooden stick used in the past to hit a student's hand as a punishment.

n. a flat instrument or ferule formerly employed in schools to administer corporal punishment by striking the palms of the hands.

“The strict teacher kept a heavy wooden palmer on his desk to frighten the children.”

“Historical accounts of the Victorian classroom often mention the palmer as a primary tool for enforcing discipline among unruly pupils.”

Archaic

v. to wrap a feather or hair along the entire length of a fishing hook.

v. to wind a hackle feather along the entire length of the hook shank when tying an artificial fly.

“He learned how to palmer the fly to make it look more like a caterpillar.”

“To ensure the lure floated high on the water, the angler chose to palmer the hackle densely along the body of the hook.”

Technical

n. someone who cheats at games like cards by hiding things in their hand.

n. a person who practices sleight of hand to cheat at cards or dice.

“The other players realized he was a palmer when they saw an extra card up his sleeve.”

“The tavern was notorious for attracting every palmer and card-sharp in the city, making it a dangerous place for an honest gambler.”

Archaic