Quick Definition
φοίνιξ, ικός, ὁ n.m. a palm tree, palm branch
Strong's Definition
a palm-tree
Derivation: of uncertain derivation;
KJV Usage: palm (tree)
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, m. | -ικος
3.8 · Plants · Trees
palm tree flowering plant species in the palm family Arecaceae; grows to 10–20 m tall; cluster of large leaves at top; Phoenix dactylifera; cultivated for its edible sweet fruit, about the size of a human thumb; symbol of elegance and grace; palm branch is symbol of peace and also victory See discussion at 3.53.
3.53 · Plants · Non-Fruit Parts of Plants
palm branch branch of the palm tree (φοῖνιξ) βάϊον is a technical term meaning ‘palm branch,’ and in JHN 12:13 τῶν φοινίκων ‘of palm trees’ may have been added redundantly, since the term βάϊον may not have been regarded as sufficiently well known to readers.
In the contexts in which φοῖνιξ[a] (JHN 12:13; see 3.8) and φοῖνιξ[b] (REV 7:9) occur in the NT, it is important to obtain a satisfactory term for branch, since in a number of languages a very important distinction is made between branches of palm trees, which are often called leaves (technically they are), and branches of most other trees (often spoken of idiomatically as arms of the trees).
1 Though in English it is generally the custom to speak of what in Greek is βάϊον or φοῖνιξ (3.53) as a palm branch, technically it is only a very large leaf, for there are no buds on these so-called branches.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
Φοίνιξ (or, as some prefer to write it, φοῖνιξ ; cf. W. 8 6, 1c.; [and reff. s. v. κήρυξ), -ικος, 6; I. as an appellative, a palm-tree (fr. Hom. down; Sept. for 7120) : τὰ Baia τῶν dow. (see Baiov), the branches of the palmtrees, Jn. xii. 13; but φοίνικες itself [A. V. palms] is put for the branches in Rev. vii. 9 (2 Mace. x. 7; xiv. 4; [so Aristot. magn. mor. § 34 p. 1196", 867). Il. a prop. name, Pheniz, a city and haven of Crete [B. Ὁ. (esp. Am. ed.) 8. v. Phenice]: Acts xxvii. 12.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
φοῖνιξ (on the accent, v. Bl., § 4, 2; WM, § 6, lc), -ικος, ὁ,
[in LXX for תָּמָר,תֹּמֶר,תִּמֹּרָה;]
the date-palm, palm: τὰ βαΐα τῶν φ., Jo 12:13; of palm branches, φοίνικες (as Arist., II Mac 10:7, al.), Re 7:9.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
φοῖνιξ, “a palm tree” (Jn 121%), or the fruit of a palm tree “dates”: cf. P Hal I. 7° (B.c. 232) αἴτησον 8... ὥστε eis [ξέϊνια φοίνικας, P Amh II. 318 (B.c. 112) τόπους περιειλημμένους els φυτείαν φοινίκων, ‘‘ pieces of land which had been enclosed for the purpose of growing palms” (Edd.), and so 15, BGU IV. 1095% (A.D. 57) περὶ δὲ τοῦ φοίνικος παλαιὸν οὐχ εὕραμεν, ‘as regards the dates, we did not find any old,” P Ryl II. 172!" (a.D. 208) φοίνικος μονοξύλου, ‘‘dates on single stems” (Edd.), and P Flor I. 50? (division of property—A.b. 268) σὺν τοῖς ἐ[νοῦσι φοί]νιξι kal φυτοῖς. Related words are φοινικών, “ἃ palm garden”’ (P Tebt II. 343°—ii/A.D.), φοινίκινος, ‘‘made of palm-wood
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
φοῖνιξ (phoinix) — palm. φοῖνιξ, ῑκος, ὁ, ἡ, Phoenician, Φοῖνιξ ἀνὴρ ἀπατήλια εἰδώς [Refs 8th c.BC+]
2. feminine, γυνή Φοίνισσα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Φοίνισσαι, name of plays by Euripides, Phrynichus, etc.; also Φ. ἐμπολά [Refs 5th c.BC+]; χθών, νᾶσος, etc., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κώπη [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
II. Carthaginian, ἀλαλατός [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B φοῖνιξ, ῑκος, ὁ, purple or crimson, because the discovery and earliest use of this colour was ascribed to the Phoenicians, [Refs 8th c.BC+] —hence, __B.2 as adjective (feminine φοίνισσα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φοῖνιξ as feminine, [Refs 5th c.BC+], blood-bay, of a horse, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of red cattle, φοίνισσα ἀγέλα [Refs 5th c.BC+]: of the colour of fire, φοίνισσα φλόξ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πυρὸς φ. πνοά E.[same place]; also φ. ἱμάντες [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.II date-palm, Phoenix dactylifera, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: the male and female distinguished by [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.II.2 palm-frond, as a badge of victory, Arist [Refs 3rd c.BC+] __B.II.3 date, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; compare φοινικοβάλανος. __B.III ὁ χαμαιρριφής dwarf-palm, Chamaerops humilis, [Refs 4th c.BC+] __B.III.2 a Bactrian tree, Mazri palm, Nannorhops ritchieana, [Refs] __B.III.3 a sea-plant, Callophyllis laciniata, [Refs] __B.III.4 rye-grass, Lolium perenne, [Refs 1st c.AD+] __B.IV a musical instrument, like a guitar, invented by the Phoenicians, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; but so called because made from the Delian palm, accusative to [Refs] __B.V the fabulous bird phoenix, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; but from India, [Refs 2nd c.AD+] __B.VI an ornament, [LXX] __B.VII perfume prepared from the fronds of the date-palm, [Refs 4th c.BC+] __B.VIII a fish, [Refs 2nd c.AD+] __B.IX a bandage, [Refs 1st c.AD+] __B.X ={εὐρύνοτος}, [Refs] __B.XI φ. ἐν ὁπλῇ, a disease of the hoof, [Refs] __B.XII an eye-salve, [Refs 4th c.AD+]