Palmistry

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Palmistry \Pal`mis*try\, n. [See {Palmister}.]
     1. The art or practice of divining or telling fortunes, or of
        judging of character, by the lines and marks in the palm
        of the hand; chiromancy. --Ascham. --Cowper.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     2. A dexterous use or trick of the hand. --Addison.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  palmistry
       n : telling fortunes by lines on the palm of the hand [syn: {palm
           reading}, {chiromancy}, {chirology}]

From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:

  PALMISTRY, n.  The 947th method (according to Mimbleshaw's
  classification) of obtaining money by false pretences.  It consists in
  "reading character" in the wrinkles made by closing the hand.  The
  pretence is not altogether false; character can really be read very
  accurately in this way, for the wrinkles in every hand submitted
  plainly spell the word "dupe."  The imposture consists in not reading
  it aloud.