palm tree
      n : any plant of the family Palmae having an unbranched trunk
          crowned by large pinnate or palmate leaves [syn: palm]


 Palm tree
    (Heb. tamar), the date-palm characteristic of Palestine. It is
    described as "flourishing" (Ps. 92:12), tall (Cant. 7:7),
    "upright" (Jer. 10:5). Its branches are a symbol of victory
    (Rev. 7:9). "Rising with slender stem 40 or 50, at times even
    80, feet aloft, its only branches, the feathery, snow-like,
    pale-green fronds from 6 to 12 feet long, bending from its top,
    the palm attracts the eye wherever it is seen." The whole land
    of Palestine was called by the Greeks and Romans Phoenicia,
    i.e., "the land of palms." Tadmor in the desert was called by
    the Greeks and Romans Palmyra, i.e., "the city of palms." The
    finest specimens of this tree grew at Jericho (Deut. 34:3) and
    Engedi and along the banks of the Jordan. Branches of the palm
    tree were carried at the feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:40). At
    our Lord's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem the crowds took
    palm branches, and went forth to meet him, crying, "Hosanna:
    Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the
    Lord" (Matt. 21:8; John 12:13). (See DATE.)