pompom
1or pom-pom
- an automatic antiaircraft cannon.
Origin of pompom
1pompom
2or pom-pom
- Also pompon. an ornamental tuft or ball of feathers, wool, or the like, used on hats, slippers, etc.
- pompon(def 3).
Origin of pompom
2Examples from the Web for pom-pom
Contemporary Examples of pom-pom
For the half-time show, a cheerleader and her doppelgängers perform some hypnotic, pom-pom routines (see 1:11).
Historical Examples of pom-pom
For pom-pom fever, Mauseritis, The toothache or the loafertitis.
A Yeoman's LettersP. T. Ross
Nineteen prisoners and a pom-pom were captured from the foe.
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 6 (of 6)Louis Creswicke
Six guns, a pom-pom, and 1000 head of cattle were the prizes of the victors.
The Great Boer WarArthur Conan Doyle
Of one thing, however, our men were afraid—the dreaded 'pom-pom' of the Boers.
From Aldershot to PretoriaW. E. Sellers
The majority of the burghers had already crossed and fled, whilst the remainder hurried back with a pom-pom and the other carts.
My Reminiscences of the Anglo-Boer WarBen Viljoen.
pom-pom
- an automatic rapid-firing, small-calibre cannon, esp a type of anti-aircraft cannon used in World War IIAlso called: pompom
Word Origin for pom-pom
pompom
pompon
- a ball of tufted silk, wool, feathers, etc, worn on a hat for decoration
- the small globelike flower head of certain cultivated varieties of dahlia and chrysanthemum
- (as modifier)pompom dahlia
Word Origin for pompom
Word Origin and History for pom-pom
"Maxim automatic gun," 1899, of imitative origin, soldiers' slang from the Boer War. For the ornamental tuft, see pompom.
pompom
"ornamental round tuft" (originally on a hat, etc.), 1748, alteration of pompon "ornamental tuft; tuft-like flower head," from French pompon (1725), of unknown origin; perhaps related to Old French pompe "pomp."