"Raise the palm"

Posted by Sauerkraut on December 28, 2000

In Reply to: "Raise the palm" posted by marcus on December 28, 2000

: : I would like to find out the derivation and meaning of "raise the palm", which I ran across in a 19th-century text. The context was that a certain behavior would cause a young woman to "raise the palm."

: : Thanks in advance for any information.

: : Jeanne Bornstein

: : raising her hand and confessing to adultry or some other indescretion? or perhaps quieting rowdy children?

It could also mean that she was preparing to slap somebody - perhaps for indiscreet suggestions?

• Talk to the hand?? ESC 12/29/00
  • Talk to the hand?? marcus 12/30/00