# Palmer

/ˈpɑɫmɝ/ (US) · /pˈɑːmɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/palmer
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. historical pilgrim

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. punishment tool

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. fly fishing technique

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

### 4. a cheat

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The palmer told stories of his long journey to the East.
- In medieval literature, the palmer is often depicted as a weary but wise figure who has seen the world's holy sites.
- Chaucer's prologue mentions palmers seeking strange strands, illustrating the social importance of the pilgrimage as both a spiritual duty and a form of early international travel.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.