/ˈpɒm.əl/ (英式) · /ˈpɑː.məl/ (美式)
pommel 有两个主要含义:
The knight gripped the pommel of his sword tightly before entering the battle.
骑士在进入战场前紧紧握住了剑柄头。
She steadied herself by holding onto the pommel of the saddle as the horse galloped across the open field, the wind whipping through her hair.
当马匹在开阔的原野上飞奔时,她紧紧抓住鞍头稳住自己,风吹乱了她的头发。
pommel 源自古法语 pomel,意为"小苹果",是拉丁语 pōmum(果实、苹果)的指小词形式。因为鞍头和剑柄头的形状都像一个小圆球,类似苹果的外形,因此得名。这个词在中世纪英语中逐渐固定下来,既用于描述马鞍的前部突起,也用于描述剑柄末端的圆头。动词"猛击"的含义则是从"用剑柄头击打"的动作引申而来。