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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Palm(e, n.¹ [ME. and e.m.E. palm(e, OE. palm, palma, palme, L. palma, F. palme (12th c. in Littré).]

1. A palm-tree, in general use. c1420 Wynt. v. 146.
As wndyrneth a palme thai lay At ese to slepe

2. Chiefly, a palm-tree or its leaf or ‘branch’ or a representation of this, regarded, as in classical antiquity, as a symbol of triumph. 1513 Doug. v. iii. 15.
With palmys scheyn in takyn of victory Ib. ix. Prol. 38.
The lawrer cedyr or the palm triumphale 1549 Compl. 148/32.
Than he that had venqueist his enemye … vas crounit vitht ane palme of gold be rason that the palme tre hes schearp broddis and pikis c1590 Fowler I. 76/245. a1605 Montg. Son. viii. 10.
About his temple tuyn Ȝour laurell leivis with palmis perfytly plet

b. Hence fig. in phrases denoting triumph, victory, pre-eminence, as palme of victorie, to bring away the palme. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1199 (Asl.).
With palme of victorie in euerlestand renovne a1500 Colk. Sow i. 427 (B). 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 257.
Perfyte symylitudis … Quharin Virgill beris the palm of lawd 1531 Bell. Boece II. 61.
Quhat excellent palme of glore wes abiding thaim gif thay … dang their ennimes c1590 J. Stewart 127/11.
And palme victorius — 1596 Dalr. II. 128/13.
The king, … ay brocht away the palme, ay bure the bel, and ay wan the victorie

c. Applied to a person regarded as triumphant or pre-eminent. ? a 1510 Mod. Lang. Notes XXIV. 110/2.
Hayle! Pryncesse of peace and palme imperyall 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 6.
Thow peirles perle patroun of poetry Roys regester palm lawrer and glory

3. A branch or sprig of some native tree or shrub taken as representing the palm on Palm Sunday. 1375 Barb. v. 339.
Thai … Yschit out … thair palmys for to bere 1507–8 Treas. Acc. IV. 40.
For cordis to the Lenterane clathis … and for palmes

4. In the south-west: = Palm(e)-fair n. a 1600 Waus Corr. 537.
[The Laird of Larg to Waus of Barnbarroch:] My lady [Barnbarroch] send me hir tikat to be anserit of the hors quhill the palme [ed. paline] for to mak peyment