pommel

1 of 2

noun

pom·​mel ˈpə-məl How to pronounce pommel (audio) ˈpä- How to pronounce pommel (audio)
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

2 of 2

verb

pom·​mel ˈpə-məl How to pronounce pommel (audio)
pommeled or pommelled; pommeling or pommelling ˈpə-mə-liŋ How to pronounce pommel (audio)
ˈpəm-liŋ

Examples of pommel in a Sentence

Verb the elderly woman pommeled the would-be thief with her handbag until he begged for mercy
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The fourth sword, with a ring at its end or pommel, was shorter and measured just under 18 inches in length. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 6 Sep. 2023 In the team finals however, a nightmarish set on pommels sent the Americans tumbling to fifth. Will Graves, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2023 The hammer attachment and adjustable Flick- Lock-style pommel are both removable, and the grippy shaft tapers to a replaceable steel spike. Outside Online, 9 Mar. 2022 Researchers detected the elaborate geometric designs on the sword’s upper and lower guards, as well as its pommel. David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Dec. 2021 And a specialized stainless-steel pommel works great for hammering on tent stakes, but can be used to tenderize cuts of wild game, as well. Outdoor Life, 23 Feb. 2021 One thing to look for in a camping hatchet is a solid, flat pommel--that’s the part of the hatchet head on the other end from the cutting edge. Outdoor Life, 23 Feb. 2021 The most important feature is its pommel, which acts as a spear and can pierce plexiglass or helicopter windows with ease. Matt Fratus, Field & Stream, 19 Aug. 2020 Depending on the make and model, your knife may have a pommel that comes to a point for precise impact (like smashing glass or skulls). Popular Science, 15 June 2020
Verb
There are pommel horses, vertical bars and all the other equipment that populates a gymnastics school. Rick Kogan, chicagotribune.com, 28 June 2021 It’s the first alpine ski area at Hatcher Pass — long a destination for cross country skiers — since the 1970s, when there was a rope tow and pommel lift at Independence Mine. Beth Bragg, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Dec. 2020 Not surprisingly, the five fastest serves ever recorded were pommeled by players 6-foot-4 or bigger. Robbie Gonzalez, WIRED, 12 July 2019 The President’s $17 million home on the island of St. Martin, Le Chateau des Palmiers, was pommeled by Irma days earlier as the then-Category 5 storm wreaked havoc on several Caribbean islands. Mackenzie Schmidt, PEOPLE.com, 12 Sep. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pommel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pommel was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near pommel

Cite this Entry

“Pommel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pommel. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pommel

1 of 2 noun
pom·​mel ˈpəm-əl How to pronounce pommel (audio) ˈpäm- How to pronounce pommel (audio)
: the knob on the hilt of a sword or at the front of a saddle

pommel

2 of 2 verb
pom·​mel ˈpəm-əl How to pronounce pommel (audio)
pommeled or pommelled; pommeling or pommelling -(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce pommel (audio)

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