Palmer

Quick meaning: Palmer is a noun meaning (now historical) A pilgrim who had been to the Holy Land and who brought back a palm branch in signification; a wandering religious votary.

Meaning

(now historical) A pilgrim who had been to the Holy Land and who brought back a palm branch in signification; a wandering religious votary.

More Meanings

1. A ferule used to punish schoolboys by striking their palms.
2. One who palms or cheats, as at cards or dice.
3. (fishing) In fly fishing, to wrap a hackle etc. along the whole shank of a hook.
4. (archaic) Abbreviation of palmerworm.

Example Sentences

Fair Isabel, poor simple Isabel! / Lorenzo, a young palmer in Love's eye! / They could not in the self-same mansion dwell / Without some stir of heart, some malady; [...]

If I had known more about them when I put on mine in the rag shop, I would have bought a soft, wide-brimmed hat to go with it; but I did not, and the shopkeeper's sister told me I looked a good palmer.

The Pilgrim had some home or dwelling place, the Palmer had none. The Pilgrim travelled to some certain, designed place or places, but the Palmer to all. The Pilgrim went as his own charge, but the Palmer professed wilful poverty and went upon alms.

Word Forms

• palmers
• palmering
• palmered

Synonyms for palmer

Depending on context, synonyms include pilgrim.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include pilgrim, index, traveler, wanderer, itinerant, voyager.

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