pom·mel
| \ ˈpə-məl
, ˈpä-
\
, ˈpä-
\
Definition of pommel
(Entry 1 of 2)
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
verb
pom·mel
| \ ˈpə-məl
\
\
pommeled or pommelled; pommeling or pommelling\
ˈpə-mə-liŋ
, ˈpəm-liŋ
\
, ˈpəm-liŋ
\
Definition of pommel (Entry 2 of 2)
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Synonyms for pommel
Synonyms: Verb
- bash,
- baste,
- bat,
- batter,
- beat,
- belabor,
- belt,
- birch,
- bludgeon,
- buffet,
- bung up,
- club,
- curry,
- do,
- drub,
- fib
- [British],
- flog,
- hammer,
- hide,
- lace,
- lambaste
- (or lambast),
- lash,
- lather,
- lick,
- maul,
- mess (up),
- paddle,
- pelt,
- pound,
- pummel,
- punch out,
- rough (up),
- slate,
- slog,
- switch,
- tan,
- thrash,
- thresh,
- thump,
- tromp,
- wallop,
- whale,
- whip,
- whop
- (or whap),
- whup,
- work over
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
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, "Best Hatchets for Camping, Wood Splitting, Survival, and More," 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, "The Stories Behind 7 Infamous U.S. Military Knives," 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, "Eight survival knife skills you might need in an emergency," 15 June 2020
Other lavish artifacts laid to rest with the man include a nearly eight-inch copper dagger adorned with a whale bone pommel, or rounded knob at the end of its handle, and a wrist guard made of rare green stone.
—
Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, "Bronze Age Chieftain’s Remains Found Beneath U.K. Skate Park," 5 May 2020
Pound the slices on a clean rock with the pommel of your knife to tenderize the meat and flatten it to a consistent thickness.
—
T. Edward Nickens, Field & Stream, "Wild Fires," 9 Jan. 2017
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, "Eight survival knife skills you might need in an emergency," 15 June 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, "Eight survival knife skills you might need in an emergency," 15 June 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, "Eight survival knife skills you might need in an emergency," 15 June 2020
Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
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, "Skeetawk, Alaska’s new alpine ski area at Hatcher Pass, opens this weekend," 4 Dec. 2020
Not surprisingly, the five fastest serves ever recorded were pommeled by players 6-foot-4 or bigger.
—
Robbie Gonzalez, WIRED, "How Elite Tennis Players Crank Out Serves at 150 MPH," 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, "Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club Assesses Damage after Indirect Hit from Hurricane Irma," 12 Sep. 2017
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pommel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Last Updated
21 Mar 2021
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Cite this Entry
“Pommel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pommel. Accessed 17 Apr. 2021.
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More Definitions for pommel
pommel
noun
English Language Learners Definition of pommel
: a high, round part on the front of a saddle
See the full definition for pommel in the English Language Learners Dictionary
pommel
noun
pom·mel
| \ ˈpə-məl
\
\
Kids Definition of pommel
: a rounded knob on the handle of a sword or at the front of a saddle
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Time Traveler for pommel
The first known use of pommel was in the 14th century
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