palmer

A medieval European pilgrim who carried a palm branch as a token of having visited the Holy Land.

A pilgrim who had returned from the Holy Land, had fulfilled his vow, and had brought with him a palm-branch to be deposited on the altar of his parish church; hence, an itinerant monk who went from shrine to shrine, under a perpetual vow of poverty and celibacy. The distinction between pilgrim and palmer seems never to have been closely observed.

A palmer-worm.

An artificial fly whose body is covered with hairs bristling in all directions: used by anglers.

A wood-louse.

A palm-tree.

One who palms or cheats, as at cards.

A ferule.

One who palms or cheats, as at cards or dice.

A wandering religious votary; especially, one who bore a branch of palm as a token that he had visited the Holy Land and its sacred places.