line of life
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
In palmistry, the crease in the left hand beginning above the web of the thumb, and running towards or up to the wrist.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “line of life” mean?
In palmistry, the crease in the left hand beginning above the web of the thumb, and running towards or up to the wrist.
Is “line of life” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.