Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A computer that is small enough to fit in the palm of one's hand.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun a personal digital assistant

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[palm + (lap)top.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

palm + top, as used in one's palm; by analogy with desktop and laptop

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word palmtop.

Examples

  • The two can communicate wirelessly, but more interestingly they can be coupled such that "there is minimal increase to the overall size and weight" of the palmtop -- in other words, the "phone" bit isn't particularly large, making it more comfortable to hold up to your face in a conversation than your

    Engadget 2010

  •  Handheld computer that is also known as a palmtop computer.

    Recently Uploaded Slideshows 2009

  • A personal digital assistant (PDA) is a mobile device, also known as a palmtop computer.

    Yahoo! Answers: Latest Questions 2009

  • The palmtop was a tiny Compaq, the same model Lauren used to keep track of her schedule.

    Critical Conditions White, Stephen, 1951- 1001

  • That middle ground has been more of a burial ground for such past ventures as tablet PCs running Microsoft Windows software and "palmtop" computers with miniaturized keyboards.

    Redskins Insider Podcast -- The Washington Post 2010

  • " The palmtop was a tiny Compaq, the same model Lauren used to keep track of her schedule.

    Critical Conditions White, Stephen, 1951- 1998

  • " The palmtop was a tiny Compaq, the same model Lauren used to keep track of her schedule.

    Critical Conditions White, Stephen, 1951- 1998

  • If you can validate spending three times the cash for something a bit less wieldy in situations where you are constantly on the go, need it to be able to be used as a palmtop, etc, go ahead -- but for those of us using these, and able to enjoy them, the validationisn't there, and neither is it there for Apple's excuses as to why they won't create one of these beauties themselves.

    The Problems With A Hackintosh Netbook, Six Months Out | Lifehacker Australia 2009

  • I'll keep a netbook or palmtop for notetaking and small-scale surfing, but I'll never spend too much money on those, knowing that I'll need to replace the whole unit at some point.

    Is The Desktop PC Dead? | Lifehacker Australia 2009

  • Finally I sprang for a palmtop computer and began making notes at the reception desk so I wouldn't forget what I was seeing and hearing.

    A Conversation Carolyn Jourdan, author of Heart in the Right Place 2010

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.