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
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
- 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
- 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
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
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
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
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
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
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
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
Dictionary Entries Near pommel
Cite this Entry
“Pommel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pommel. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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