palmate

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   shaped like an open hand, with lobes, leaflets, veins, or other parts radiating from a common point

   The vine has broad palmate leaves with five pointed lobes.

2. 2
   adj

   zoology: having the three front toes connected by webbing, especially of a bird's foot

   The gull's palmate feet propel it efficiently through the water.

3. 3
   noun

   historical, decorative art: a palm-shaped motif worked into a textile, rug, carving, or other ornament

   Gold-thread palmates spread across the ceremonial muslin.

A learned borrowing from Latin palmatus, 'marked or shaped like a hand or palm leaf,' from palma, 'palm of the hand; palm tree.' Botanical and zoological uses describe radiating parts. A rare historical noun denoted a palm-shaped decorative motif, close in sense to palmette.

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