† 1. palma, ae [παλάμη; Sanscr. phal, to open], f., the palm of the hand.
- I. Lit., Cic. Or. 32, 113; Cels. 8, 18: cavis undam de flumine palmis Sustulit, Verg. A. 8, 69: aliquem palmā concutere, Plin. Ep. 3, 14, 7: faciem contundere palmā, Juv. 13, 128: os hominis liberi manus suae palmā verberare, Laber. ap. Gell. 20, 1, 13.
- II. Transf.
- A. (Pars pro toto.) The hand: compressan’ palma an porrecta ferio? Plaut. Cas. 2, 6, 53: palmarum intentus, Cic. Sest. 55, 117: passis palmis salutem petere, Caes. B. C. 3, 98: teneras arcebant vincula palmas, Verg. A. 2, 406: duplices tendens ad sidera palmas, id. ib. 1, 93: amplexus tremulis altaria palmis, Ov. M. 5, 103; Val. Fl. 8, 44.
- B. The sole of a goose’s foot: palmas pedum anseris torrere, Plin. 10, 22, 27, § 52.
- C. The broad end or blade of an oar: palmarum pulsus, Laber. ap. Non. 151, 27: caerula verrentes abiegnis aequora palmis, Cat. 64, 7; Vitr. 10, 8.
- D. A palm-tree, a palm, φοῖνιξ: ab ejus summo, sicut palmae, rami quam late diffunduntur, Caes. B. G. 6, 26; Plin. 13, 4, 9, § 39: in palmarum foliis primo scriptitatum, id. 13, 11, 21, § 69; 16, 42, 81, § 223; Gell. 3, 6, 2: arbor palmae, Suet. Aug. 94: ardua, Verg. G. 2, 67: viridis, Ov. A. A. 2, 3: arbusto palmarum dives Idume, Luc. 3, 216.
Sing. collect.: umbrosa, Juv. 15, 76.
Hence,
- 2. Transf.
- a. The fruit of the palm-tree, a date (poet.): quid vult palma sibi rugosaque carica, Ov. F. 1, 185; Pers. 6, 39.
- b. A palm-branch, e. g. which was suspended in wine to make it sweeter, Cato, R. R. 113; Col. 12, 20, 5.
- c. Hence, also, a broom made of palm-twigs: ten’ lapides varios lutulentā radere palmā, Hor. S. 2, 4, 83 (pro scopis ex palmā confectis, Schol.); Mart. 14, 82.
- d. A palm-branch or palm-wreath, as a token of victory: eodem anno (461 A.U.C.) … palmae primum, translato e Graeciā more, victoribus datae, Liv. 10, 47; cf.: more victorum cum palmā discucurrit, Suet. Calig. 32: IMP. CAES. EX SICILIA EID. NOV. TRIVMPHAVIT, PALMAM DEDIT, dedicated to Jupiter, Inscr. Marin. Fratr. Arv. p. 607; so very frequently: palmam dare, Tabulae Fastorum Triumph., v. Bullet. Instit. Archaeol. 1861, p. 91; cf. Isid. Orig. 18, 2, 4; hence,
- e. Transf., a token or badge of victory, the palm or prize; and still more gen., victory, honor, glory, pre-eminence: antehac est habitus parcus … is nunc in aliam partem palmam possidet, Plaut. Most. 1, 1, 32: plurimarum palmarum gladiator, Cic. Rosc. Am. 6, 17: cum palmam jam primus acceperit, id. Brut. 47, 173: quos Elea domum reducit Palma caelestes, Hor. C. 4, 2, 17: quam palmam utinam di immortales tibi reservent, Cic. Sen. 6, 19: docto oratori palma danda est, id. de Or. 3, 35, 143; id. Att. 4, 15, 6; id. Phil. 11, 5, 11: alicujus rei palmam alicui deferre, id. de Or. 2, 56, 227; cf. Varr. R. R. 2, 1: palmā donare aliquem, Ov. A. A. 2, 3: arbiter pugnae posuisse nudo Sub pede palmam Fertur, Hor. C. 3, 20, 11.
Of things: Siculum mel fert palmam, bears away the palm, has the preference, Varr. R. R. 3, 16, 14.
- f. Hence, in gen., the topmost twig or branch of any tree: quae cujusque stipitis palma sit, Liv. 33, 5, 10; cf. Curt. 4, 3, 10 (Mütz.)
- g. Poet., of the victor himself: post Helymus subit et jam tertia palma Diores, Verg. A. 5, 339; Sil. 16, 504, 574.
- h. Of horses: Eliadum palmae equarum, Verg. G. 1, 59.
- k. Also, of one about to be conquered, and who is to become the prize of the victor: ultima restabat fusis jam palma duobus Virbius, Sil. 4, 392.
- E. A branch on a tree, esp. on a vine, = palmes, Plin. 17, 23, 35, § 202; Varr. R. R. 1, 31, 3; Col. 3, 17, 4; 4, 15, 3; 4, 24, 12 sq.
- F. The fruit of an Egyptian tree, Plin. 12, 22, 47, § 103.
- G. An aromatic plant growing in Africa and Syria, Plin. 12, 28, 62, § 134 (= elate).
- H. A marine plant, Plin. 13, 25, 49, § 138.
- K. A town in the Balearic islands, Plin. 3, 5, 11, § 77.