pompom

or pom-pom

[ pom-pom ]

/ ˈpɒmˌpɒm /

noun

an automatic antiaircraft cannon.

Nearby words

pompholyx, pompidou, pompidou, georges jean raymond, pompier, pompilid, pompom, pompom girl, pompon, pomposity, pompous, pompton lakes

Origin of pompom

First recorded in 1895–1900; imitative

Definition for pom-pom (2 of 2)

pompom

or pom-pom

[ pom-pom ]

/ ˈpɒmˌpɒm /

noun

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

pompon(def 3).

Origin of pompom

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pom-pom

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
Even the emplacements of a field gun and a pom-pom were disclosed by shots casually fired for range-finding purposes.
A Handbook of the Boer War|Gale and Polden, Limited
Lieutenant Harwich himself fired with the pom-pom, and was shot through the heart in the act.
South Africa and the Transvaal War, vol. 7|Louis Creswicke
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

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
Nineteen prisoners and a pom-pom were captured from the foe.
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 6 (of 6)|Louis Creswicke

British Dictionary definitions for pom-pom (1 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

British Dictionary definitions for pom-pom (2 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

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

Word Origin and History for pom-pom (1 of 2)

pom-pom

"Maxim automatic gun," 1899, of imitative origin, soldiers' slang from the Boer War. For the ornamental tuft, see pompom.

Word Origin and History for pom-pom (1 of 2)

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."