Are they handy for holding up dates? (5)

I believe the answer is:

palms

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'dates?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I cannot see how they can define each other.

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

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(Other definitions for palms that I've seen before include "Large, tropical trees" , "Hand parts or tropical trees" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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