Etymologically
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palma

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈpaɫ.ma], [ˈpaɫ.maː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpal.ma], [ˈpal.ma][1]

Forms

palma f (genitive palmae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *palamā-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₂-em-h₂- (“flat, wide”).[2][1] Cognate with Ancient Greek παλάμη (palámē, “palm of the hand”), Old Irish lám (“hand”), Welsh llaw (“hand”), Old High German folma (“hand”) and Old English folm (“flat hand”).[2][3] The vowels of the Latin and Greek words point to an m-stem with the suffix in full grade; a borrowing from Greek, which some have assumed, does not fit.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus,[2][4] who has people competing for the palm of victory for actors.[3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It was the palm of the hand, and by extension the hand.[3][5] The palm tree was named after it, because its spreading fronds look like an open hand, and the word also meant a date, palm leaves or branches, and a fruiting vine shoot.[3][6] Because a palm branch was given to victors, it came to mean victory, first place and the winner.[3] Isidore gives both explanations: a palm adorned the victor's hand, and its branches spread like a hand.[7]

In medieval Latin the plural palmae was Palm Sunday.[8] In British medieval Latin ad palmam was a ball game played with the hand, later with a racket, that is, tennis.[9] English palm goes back to it in both senses: the tree through Old English palma, the hand through Old French paume.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the palm of victory.[3][4]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of palm leaves used in fumigation.[3][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the palm of the hand.[10][4]
  • c. 560–636 AD – Isidore explains the name of the tree.[7][4]
  • c. 1300 – English palm “flat of the hand” is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The palm of the hand; the hand.[3][5]
  2. A palm tree.[3]
  3. A date (fruit).[3]
  4. A palm leaf or branch.[3]
  5. The palm of victory; victory, first place.[3]
  6. A victor.[3]
  7. A fruiting vine branch.[3]
  8. (Medieval Latin) (plural) Palm Sunday.[8]

Word family

  • palmāris
  • palmārium
  • palmātus
  • palmes
  • palmētum
  • palmeus
  • palmicius
  • palmifer
  • palmiger
  • palmō
  • palmōsus
  • palmula
  • palmipedālis
  • palmulāris
  • palam
  • English palm

Usage notes

Lewis and Short also record palma as a by-form of parma “small shield”.[10][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ a b Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  10. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press