Origins Of The Verb To Palmer

[Wildfisher]

As in palmering a  fly. I heard recently, I think it was on one of Bob Wyatt's DVDs, (and Bob does his research)  that it comes from an old Scottish word - "palmer"  meaning caterpillar or type of caterpillar. That sort of makes sense when you look at the effect.

Anyone heard this or perhaps an alternative?

[Highlander]

 A palmer hackle goes way back & I'll bet before Scottish tiers got hold of it.
Dame Julian Berners had Mayflies tied with this hackle. I see the connection with Caterpillars but not a word of Scottish origin that I am aware off.
I believe the term came from early Christian times were palm leaves were carried as a mark that they had visited the Holy Land. I take it the shape of the Palm leafs came into fly tying some time later on.

Tight Lines

[Mark]

Wow never knew there was so much to it, or it was so old.
When was Berners around..1400's?

[Highlander]

When was Berners around..1400's?

Yes that is about right. If you really want to read a bit of history see if you can get a copy of
The Fly...........Andrew Herd 
That will tell you about most old things including the Palmer question.
I may be available online to read by now. I had a copy way back but it went "walkies" so I can not check just going on memory with my answear.

Tight Lines

[Mark]

Thanks Highlander. Also found a couple of books here - https://archive.org/search.php?query=Dame%20Juliana

Been working my way through lots of books on there from the 1850's to early 1920's. They really loved their trout fishing back then with a passion