pompom

or pom-pom

[ pom-pom ]

/ ˈpɒmˌpɒm /

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noun

Also pompon . an ornamental tuft or ball of feathers, wool, or the like, used on hats, slippers, etc.

pompon (def. 3).

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of pompom

First recorded in 1740–50; variant of pompon, with assimilation of final n

Other definitions for pompom (2 of 2)

pompom²

or pom-pom

[ pom-pom ]

/ ˈpɒmˌpɒm /

noun

an automatic antiaircraft cannon.

Origin of pompom

First recorded in 1895–1900; imitative

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pompom in a sentence

For the half-time show, a cheerleader and her doppelgängers perform some hypnotic, pom-pom routines (see 1:11).
Austin Mahone, Grouplove & More Best Music Videos of the Week (VIDEO)|Jean Trinh|June 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A pom-pom of ours is now popping away just ahead, and there is a good deal of rifle-fire.
In the Ranks of the C.I.V.|Erskine Childers
Then pom-pom-pom, whew-w-w-w, as shells came singing over the rear-guard.
In the Ranks of the C.I.V.|Erskine Childers
The cheering broke out again, and some of Sesar Karvall's guardsmen began firing a pom-pom somewhere.
Space Viking|Henry Beam Piper

With a 'pom-pom' gun it's just like playing a garden hose on them, only it's high-explosive shell instead of water.
Captain Scraggs|Peter B. Kyne
Gun, pom-pom, machine gun, and rifle blazed out from right to left along more than three miles of entrenchments.
The Invasion|William Le Queux

British Dictionary definitions for pompom (1 of 2)

pompom

pompon

/ (ˈpɒmpɒm) /

noun

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

C18: from French, from Old French pompe knot of ribbons, of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for pompom (2 of 2)

pom-pom

/ (ˈpɒmpɒm) /

noun

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

C19: of imitative origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012