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n. 1. Any of numerous chiefly tropical evergreen trees, shrubs, or woody vines of the family Arecaceae (or Palmae), characteristically having an unbranched trunk with a crown of large pinnate or palmate leaves having conspicuous parallel venation. 2. A leaf of a palm tree, regarded as an emblem of victory, success, or joy. 3. A small metallic representation of a palm leaf added to a military decoration that has been awarded more than one time. [Middle English, from Old English and from Old French palme, both from Latin palma, palm of the hand, palm tree (from the shape of the tree's fronds); see pelə-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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