Mid 16th century; earliest use found in William Painter (?1540–1594), translator and administrator. From classical Latin Palmȳrēnus of or belonging to Palmyra, in post-classical Latin also as noun, native or inhabitant of Palmyra from Hellenistic Greek Παλμυρηνός native or inhabitant of Palmyra from Παλμύρα (classical Latin Palmȳra) Palmyra, the name of a city in ancient Syria + -ηνός.