[pom.mel] n [ME pomel, fr. MF, fr. (assumed) VL pomellum ball, knob, fr. dim. of LL pomum apple] (14c) 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
[2]pom.mel vt -meled or -melled ; -mel.ing or -mel.ling [[1]pommel] (1530): pummel