Noun
(uncountable)
Origin
According to the Chambers Dictionary (Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap, 1998) the phrase is “from the old Arabic or Jewish idea of a wise man dispensing justice under a palm tree.” Thus: “And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.” (Judges 4:5)
