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
pommeled or pommelled; pommeling or pommelling
ˈpə-mə-liŋ 
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
Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 10 May 2025
Found in a man’s grave, the weapon’s silver- and gold-plated hilt is engraved with patterns, and a ring is fused to its pommel (the top of its handle).
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Jan. 2025
After digging a little less than eight inches into the ground, Visser was met with an ancient object that was instantly recognizable to him as part of a pommel.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 6 Dec. 2024
And like Longclaw, swords could be named and could have their pommels replaced as necessary or desired.
—Kelly Devries, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2012
Archaeologists have found curved iron blades, a spearhead, two pilums (a type of javelin used by Romans in combat at close range), a pommel of a sword and the handle for a cutting weapon, according to the release.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 23 July 2024
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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Known for mastering horses of the pommel variety, Nedoroscik was undone by Eze’s chess equivalent.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 10 May 2025
Found in a man’s grave, the weapon’s silver- and gold-plated hilt is engraved with patterns, and a ring is fused to its pommel (the top of its handle).
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Jan. 2025
After digging a little less than eight inches into the ground, Visser was met with an ancient object that was instantly recognizable to him as part of a pommel.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 6 Dec. 2024
And like Longclaw, swords could be named and could have their pommels replaced as necessary or desired.
—Kelly Devries, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2012
Archaeologists have found curved iron blades, a spearhead, two pilums (a type of javelin used by Romans in combat at close range), a pommel of a sword and the handle for a cutting weapon, according to the release.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 23 July 2024
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Pommel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pommel. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share