pommel
1 of 2noun
pom·mel ˈpə-məl 
ˈpä-
ˈpä- 1
: the knob on the hilt of a sword or saber
2
: the protuberance at the front and top of a saddle
3
: either of a pair of removable rounded or U-shaped handles used on the top of a pommel horse
pommel
2 of 2verb
pom·mel ˈpə-məl
pommeled or pommelled; pommeling or pommelling ˈpə-mə-liŋ
ˈpəm-liŋ
transitive verb
: pummel
Synonyms
Verb
- bash
- baste
- bat
- batter
- beat
- belabor
- belt
- birch
- bludgeon
- buffet
- bung up
- club
- curry
- do
- drub
- fib [British]
- flog
- hammer
- hide
- lace
- lambaste
- lambast
- lash
- lather
- lick
- maul
- mess (up)
- paddle
- pelt
- pound
- pummel
- punch out
- rough (up)
- slate
- slog
- switch
- tan
- thrash
- thresh
- thump
- tromp
- wallop
- whale
- whip
- whop
- whap
- whup
- work over
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb the elderly woman pommeled the would-be thief with her handbag until he begged for mercy
Recent Examples on the Web
Outside Online, 9 Mar. 2022 Researchers detected the elaborate geometric designs on the sword’s upper and lower guards, as well as its pommel. David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Dec. 2021 And a specialized stainless-steel pommel works great for hammering on tent stakes, but can be used to tenderize cuts of wild game, as well. Outdoor Life, 23 Feb. 2021 One thing to look for in a camping hatchet is a solid, flat pommel--that’s the part of the hatchet head on the other end from the cutting edge. Outdoor Life, 23 Feb. 2021 The most important feature is its pommel, which acts as a spear and can pierce plexiglass or helicopter windows with ease. Matt Fratus, Field & Stream, 19 Aug. 2020 Depending on the make and model, your knife may have a pommel that comes to a point for precise impact (like smashing glass or skulls). Popular Science, 15 June 2020 Other lavish artifacts laid to rest with the man include a nearly eight-inch copper dagger adorned with a whale bone pommel, or rounded knob at the end of its handle, and a wrist guard made of rare green stone. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 May 2020 Pound the slices on a clean rock with the pommel of your knife to tenderize the meat and flatten it to a consistent thickness. T. Edward Nickens, Field & Stream, 9 Jan. 2017 Rick Kogan, chicagotribune.com, 28 June 2021 It’s the first alpine ski area at Hatcher Pass — long a destination for cross country skiers — since the 1970s, when there was a rope tow and pommel lift at Independence Mine. Beth Bragg, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Dec. 2020 Not surprisingly, the five fastest serves ever recorded were pommeled by players 6-foot-4 or bigger. Robbie Gonzalez, WIRED, 12 July 2019 The President’s $17 million home on the island of St. Martin, Le Chateau des Palmiers, was pommeled by Irma days earlier as the then-Category 5 storm wreaked havoc on several Caribbean islands. Mackenzie Schmidt, PEOPLE.com, 12 Sep. 2017 See More
Noun
The hammer attachment and adjustable Flick- Lock-style pommel are both removable, and the grippy shaft tapers to a replaceable steel spike. Outside Online, 9 Mar. 2022 Researchers detected the elaborate geometric designs on the sword’s upper and lower guards, as well as its pommel. David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Dec. 2021 And a specialized stainless-steel pommel works great for hammering on tent stakes, but can be used to tenderize cuts of wild game, as well. Outdoor Life, 23 Feb. 2021 One thing to look for in a camping hatchet is a solid, flat pommel--that’s the part of the hatchet head on the other end from the cutting edge. Outdoor Life, 23 Feb. 2021 The most important feature is its pommel, which acts as a spear and can pierce plexiglass or helicopter windows with ease. Matt Fratus, Field & Stream, 19 Aug. 2020 Depending on the make and model, your knife may have a pommel that comes to a point for precise impact (like smashing glass or skulls). Popular Science, 15 June 2020 Other lavish artifacts laid to rest with the man include a nearly eight-inch copper dagger adorned with a whale bone pommel, or rounded knob at the end of its handle, and a wrist guard made of rare green stone. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 May 2020 Pound the slices on a clean rock with the pommel of your knife to tenderize the meat and flatten it to a consistent thickness. T. Edward Nickens, Field & Stream, 9 Jan. 2017 Verb
There are pommel horses, vertical bars and all the other equipment that populates a gymnastics school. Rick Kogan, chicagotribune.com, 28 June 2021 It’s the first alpine ski area at Hatcher Pass — long a destination for cross country skiers — since the 1970s, when there was a rope tow and pommel lift at Independence Mine. Beth Bragg, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Dec. 2020 Not surprisingly, the five fastest serves ever recorded were pommeled by players 6-foot-4 or bigger. Robbie Gonzalez, WIRED, 12 July 2019 The President’s $17 million home on the island of St. Martin, Le Chateau des Palmiers, was pommeled by Irma days earlier as the then-Category 5 storm wreaked havoc on several Caribbean islands. Mackenzie Schmidt, PEOPLE.com, 12 Sep. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English pomel, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *pomellum ball, knob, from diminutive of Latin pomum fruit
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1530, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing pommel
Kids Definition
pommel
noun
pom·mel ˈpə-məl
: a rounded knob on the handle of a sword or at the front of a saddle
pommel
verb
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly the elderly woman pommeled the would-be thief with her handbag until he begged for mercy Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- lick
- whip
- lash
- pound
- hide
- pelt
- bat
- batter
- maul
- hammer
- thump
- attack
- spank
- belt
- punch
- beat
- hit
- assault
- knock
- birch
- slap
- paddle
- slam
- do
- slate
- smash
- tan
- chop
- curry
- lace
- punch out
- bludgeon
- whale
- pummel
- box
- lather
- buffet
- club
- thrash
- strap
- raid
- wound
- storm
- bash
- whack
- smack
- work over
- thresh
- switch
- bung up
- leather
- flog
- baste
- swipe
- wallop
- cudgel
- whup
- fib
- whap
- belabor
- drub
- cane
- cuff
- cowhide
- slog
- beat up on
- rawhide
- whop
- sock
- crack
- swat
- thwack
- tromp
- paste
- lam
- rush
- lambaste
- lambast
- horsewhip
- wham
- rough (up)
- flagellate
- clout
- gore
- lay on
- blackjack
- lacerate
- bust
- beset
- assail
- scourge
- clobber
- mess (up)
- descend (on or upon)
- jump (on)
- maim
- whomp
- pistol-whip
- mutilate
- pounce (on or upon)
- mangle
- fustigate
