Middle English Dictionary Entry
paumestrī n.
Entry Info
| Forms | paumestrī n. Also palmestrie. |
| Etymology | ?From *paumestre 'reader of palms' (from paume n. & -estre suf.; cp. 16th cent. Scot. palmester) & -e)rīe suf. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The practice of reading palms; palmistry.
Associated quotations
- c1450 Gower CA (Hrl 3490)7.1464 : Palmestrie [Frf: Gebuz and Alpetragus eke Of Planisperie, which men seke, the bokes made].
- c1450 Metham Palm.(Gar 141)84 fn. : Palmestrye.
- c1450 Metham Physiog.(Gar 141)118/19 : In the cyte off Arge ther dwellyd a gret phylysophyr, the qwyche had gret insyte in physnomye and palmestrye.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)870 : Vertew..refusyd and seyde in nowyse They shuld with hym go..These were her names: Nygromansy, Geomansy, Magyk, and Glotony..with Pyromancy, Fysenamy also, and Pawmestry.