Main Entry: ¹pom·mel

Pronunciation: \ˈpə-məl, ˈpä-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English pomel, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *pomellum ball, knob, from diminutive of Latin pomum fruit

Date: 14th century

1 : the knob on the hilt of a sword or saber
2 : the protuberance at the front and top of a saddle
3 : either of a pair of removable rounded or U-shaped handles used on the top of a pommel horse

[pommel illustration]