pompom

or pom-pom

[pom-pom]

noun

an automatic antiaircraft cannon.

Origin of pompom

First recorded in 1895–1900; imitative

pompom

or pom-pom

[pom-pom]

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. 2018

Examples 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).
Austin Mahone, Grouplove & More Best Music Videos of the Week (VIDEO)
Jean Trinh
June 15, 2013

Historical Examples of pom-pom

For pom-pom fever, Mauseritis, The toothache or the loafertitis.
A Yeoman's Letters
P. 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 War
Arthur Conan Doyle
Of one thing, however, our men were afraid—the dreaded 'pom-pom' of the Boers.
From Aldershot to Pretoria
W. 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 War
Ben Viljoen.

British Dictionary definitions for pom-pom

pom-pom

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

pompom

pompon

noun

a ball of tufted silk, wool, feathers, etc, worn on a hat for decoration
1. the small globelike flower head of certain cultivated varieties of dahlia and chrysanthemum
2. (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

"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."