pommel

American  

[puhm-uhl, pom-] / ˈpʌm əl, ˈpɒm- /

noun

1. a knob, as on the hilt of a sword.

2. the protuberant part at the front and top of a saddle.

3. Architecture. a spherical ornament or finial.

4. Gymnastics. either of the two curved handles on the top surface of a side horse.

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verb (used with object)

pommeled, pommeling, pommelled, pommelling

1. to beat or strike with or as if with the fists or a pommel.

pommel British  

/ ˈpɒm-, ˈpʌməl /

noun

1. the raised part on the front of a saddle

2. a knob at the top of a sword or similar weapon

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verb

1. a less common word for pummel

Etymology

Origin of pommel

1300–50; (noun) Middle English pomel < Middle French, derivative of Old French pom hilt of a sword < Latin pōmum fruit; pome, -elle

Example Sentences

McClenaghan, who triumphed on the pommel horse in Paris, said it was "a huge honour".

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025

Then Nedoroscik performed a near-flawless pommel horse routine that helped Team USA secure the bronze, the United States men’s first Olympic medal since 2008.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2024

The Rubik's Cube-solving 'pommel horse guy' stared deep into the pommel horse, as he quietly waited his turn.

From BBC • Aug. 11, 2024

Stephen Nedoroscik finishes his pommel horse routine in the final and the crowd goes WILD!

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 3, 2024

He drew his sword and showed it to her; a longsword adroitly shrunken to suit a boy of twelve, gleaming blue steel, castle-forged and double-edged, with a leather grip and a lion's-head pommel in gold.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin