pommel
/ˈpɒm(ə)l
/ /ˈpʌm(ə)l /noun
1A rounded knob on the end of the handle of a sword, dagger, or old-fashioned gun.This done he attached a crossguard, handle and pommel of a simple sword....
- This year's excavation returned to the metalworking area outside the mound's ditch and uncovered a wealth of finds including a sword pommel and ingot mould.
- These early swords usually had pommels and crossguards made up of layers of organic material such as wood, bone or horn; which were often sandwiched, embellished with, or even completely covered by, bronze, gold and silver.
2The upward curving or projecting part of a saddle in front of the rider.He could see long, curving horns attached where the pommel would be on a normal saddle, and the rider carried a shield and a long stave, and had a sword sheathed at her hip....
- As he reached the ground his pony started to run and was dragging the body which was evidently attached by a lariat to the pommel of his saddle.
- Their riot helmets rest quietly on the pommels of their saddles, but the body language of the officers is hostile.
verb (pommels, pommelling, pommelled; US pommels, pommeling, pommeled)
another term for pummel.Xavier smiled encouragingly at her, and Zeya looked ready to pommel anyone who touched her....
- Coming away from one song, during a moment of relative quiet, John simply pommeled the keyboard with a wrist or an elbow, as if to demonstrate that the tones we were hearing were genuine and uncontrived.
Origin
Middle English (denoting a finial at the top of a tower): from Old French pomel, from a diminutive of Latin pomum 'fruit, apple'.