Late 15th century; earliest use found in Loutfut Manuscript. From Anglo-Norman pomelé and Middle French pommelé, either from pomel + -é (compare Old French pomelé (of a stick or staff) knobbed; compare later pommelled), or from pome + -el + -é (compare earlier pomelé dappled and later †pommelé round like an apple, use as adjective of the past participle of pommeler to assume a rounded form; compare later pometty, pommé).