palm
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To impose upon. "You can’t PALM that off upon me," is said when an intending purchaser is suspicious of the quality of the article offered.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “palm” mean?
To impose upon. "You can’t PALM that off upon me," is said when an intending purchaser is suspicious of the quality of the article offered.
Is “palm” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.