Late 18th century. From Hebrew rimmōn, denoting a pomegranate-shaped ornament, originally (Exodus 28:33–4) embellishing the skirt of the High Priest's garment, later (1 Kings 7:42) four hundred such ornaments decorating the nettings on top of the pillars in the Temple of Solomon, extended use of rimmōn pomegranate, of uncertain origin, apparently a loanword.