From Latin palma 'palm of the hand,' from PIE *pleh₂- 'flat' — the tree was named for the hand-like spread of its fronds.
The inner surface of the hand between the wrist and the fingers.
From Old French palme, from Latin palma 'palm of the hand,' also 'palm tree' (from the leaf's resemblance to an open hand). The Latin word derives from PIE *pleh₂- 'flat, broad.' The native Old English word was folm. Key roots: *pleh₂- (Proto-Indo-European: "flat, broad").