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pom·mel

(pŭməl, pŏm-)

tr.v. pom·meled, pom·mel·ing, pom·melsalso pom·melled , pom·mel·ling ,

To beat; pummel.

1. The upper front part of a saddle; a saddlebow.

2. Either of the two rounded handles on top of a pommel horse.

3. A knob on the hilt of a sword or similar weapon used to provide a more secure grip on the weapon or to counterbalance the blade.

[From Middle English pomel, a pommel, from Old French , diminutive of pom, ball, fruit, from Latin pōmum, fruit.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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