Palm, n.
 1. Bot. Any endogenous tree of the order Palmæ or Palmaceæ; a palm tree.
 Note: ☞ Palms are perennial woody plants, often of majestic size. The trunk is usually erect and rarely branched, and has a roughened exterior composed of the persistent bases of the leaf stalks.  The leaves are borne in a terminal crown, and are supported on stout, sheathing, often prickly, petioles.  They are usually of great size, and are either pinnately or palmately many-cleft.  There are about one thousand species known, nearly all of them growing in tropical or semitropical regions.  The wood, petioles, leaves, sap, and fruit of many species are invaluable in the arts and in domestic economy.  Among the best known are the date palm, the cocoa palm, the fan palm, the oil palm, the wax palm, the palmyra, and the various kinds called cabbage palm and palmetto.
 2. A branch or leaf of the palm, anciently borne or worn as a symbol of victory or rejoicing.
    A great multitude . . . stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palme in their hands.   --Rev. vii. 9.
 3. Hence: Any symbol or token of superiority, success, or triumph; also, victory; triumph; supremacy. “The palm of martyrdom.”
 So get the start of the majestic world
 And bear the palm alone.   --Shak.
 Molucca palm Bot., a labiate herb from Asia (Molucella lævis), having a curious cup-shaped calyx.
 Palm cabbage, the terminal bud of a cabbage palm, used as food.
 Palm cat Zool., the common paradoxure.
 Palm crab Zool., the purse crab.
 Palm oil, a vegetable oil, obtained from the fruit of several species of palms, as the African oil palm (Elæis Guineensis), and used in the manufacture of soap and candles. See Elæis.
 Palm swift Zool., a small swift (Cypselus Batassiensis) which frequents the palmyra and cocoanut palms in India. Its peculiar nest is attached to the leaf of the palmyra palm.
 Palm toddy. Same as Palm wine.
 Palm weevil Zool., any one of mumerous species of very large weevils of the genus Rhynchophorus. The larvæ bore into palm trees, and are called palm borers, and grugru worms. They are considered excellent food.
 Palm wine, the sap of several species of palms, especially, in India, of the wild date palm (Phœnix sylvestrix), the palmyra, and the Caryota urens.  When fermented it yields by distillation arrack, and by evaporation jaggery.  Called also palm toddy.
 Palm worm, or Palmworm. Zool. (a) The larva of a palm weevil. (b) A centipede.


 Purse n.
 1. A small bag or pouch, the opening of which is made to draw together closely, used to carry money in; by extension, any receptacle for money carried on the person; a wallet; a pocketbook; a portemonnaie.
    Who steals my purse steals trash.   --Shak.
 2. Hence, a treasury; finances; as, the public purse.
 3. A sum of money offered as a prize, or collected as a present; as, to win the purse; to make up a purse.
 4. A specific sum of money; as: (a) In Turkey, the sum of 500 piasters. (b) In Persia, the sum of 50 tomans.
 Light purse, or Empty purse, poverty or want of resources.
 Long purse, ∨ Heavy purse, wealth; riches.
 Purse crab Zool., any land crab of the genus Birgus, allied to the hermit crabs. They sometimes weigh twenty pounds or more, and are very strong, being able to crack cocoanuts with the large claw. They chiefly inhabit the tropical islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, living in holes and feeding upon fruit. Called also palm crab.
 Purse net, a fishing net, the mouth of which may be closed or drawn together like a purse. --Mortimer.
 Purse pride, pride of money; insolence proceeding from the possession of wealth. --Bp. Hall.
 Purse rat. Zool. See Pocket gopher, under Pocket.
 Sword and purse, the military power and financial resources of a nation.