Where does “Palmyra” come from?

Palmyra is from Ancient Greek Παλμύρα, a place name of uncertain origin and meaning.

Palmyra (English): A palm (Borassus flabellifer) with straight black upright trunk and palmate leaves, whose wood, fruit, and roots can be used for many purposes

Definitions

  1. A palm (Borassus flabellifer) with straight black upright trunk and palmate leaves, whose wood, fruit, and roots can be used for many purposes

Ancestry of “Palmyra”, step by step

Palmyra traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Portuguese palmeira

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Portuguesepalmeirapalm
2PortuguesePalmapalm inner part of the hand
3LatinPalmapalm of the hand, hand
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpl̥h₂meh₂palm, hand
5Proto-Indo-Europeanplh₂m-—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpelh₂-to approach
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpel-to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold

via Ancient Greek Παλμύρα

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient GreekΠαλμύραPalmyra

Words derived from “Palmyra”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European pel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European pelh₂- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European plh₂m- →