royal palm

American  

noun

1. any of several tall, showy feather palms of the genus Roystonea, as R. regia, having a trunk that is swollen in the middle.

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royal palm British  

noun

1. any of several palm trees of the genus Roystonea , esp R. regia , of tropical America, having a tall trunk with a tuft of feathery pinnate leaves

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Etymology

Origin of royal palm

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65

Example Sentences

Our route takes us through woods of mamey, bitter orange, coffee and banana, shaded by avocado and the royal palm, past ferns and flittering butterflies.

From The Guardian • Nov. 24, 2018

He sways behind the center like a royal palm, but it is a greater wonder how he can swagger sitting down and strut standing still.

From Time Magazine Archive

Behind the 122-yd. third hole stands a solitary wooden bench beneath an enormous royal palm where President Nixon �who seldom plays the course�likes to sit in private tranquillity at dusk.

From Time Magazine Archive

After the welcoming ceremony and a tour of the city’s recently modernized ports and boulevards, the chauffeured car turned on to Paissandu Street, famous for the lanky royal palm trees that lined each side.

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple

She remembers the night the lightning hit the royal palm, how the birds circled in confusion before scattering north.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García