pommel horse: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “pommel horse” mean?
A gymnastics apparatus consisting of a long, narrow, padded body (the horse) with two upward-facing handles (pommels) mounted on top, used for performing swinging and circling movements.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A gymnastics apparatus consisting of a long, narrow, padded body (the horse) with two upward-facing handles (pommels) mounted on top, used for performing swinging and circling movements.
Refers to the artistic gymnastics event or discipline itself, involving routines performed on this specific apparatus.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Pronunciation may vary slightly (see IPA).
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally standard in both varieties within the sport of gymnastics.
Grammar
How to Use “pommel horse” in a Sentence
{athlete} performs a routine on the pommel horse.{judge} scores the pommel horse.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pommel horse” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He will pommel horse for the first time in the team final.
- She is learning to pommel horse safely.
American English
- He's scheduled to pommel horse in the next rotation.
- They spent the afternoon pommeling horse.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- His pommel-horse score was the highest of the day.
- They attended a pommel-horse training clinic.
American English
- The pommel horse event starts at 3 PM.
- She is a pommel-horse specialist on the team.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in sports science and physical education papers discussing gymnastics techniques.
Everyday
Rare, used primarily when discussing the Olympic sport of artistic gymnastics.
Technical
Central term in the rules, judging, and coaching of men's artistic gymnastics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pommel horse”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “pommel horse”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pommel horse”
- Pronouncing it as 'pom-el' (like 'pom' in pomegranate). Correct is 'pumm-el'.
- Confusing it with a 'vaulting horse', which is a different, unpadded apparatus used for the vault event.
- Using 'pommel horse' to refer to the leather knob on a sword (that is simply a 'pommel').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the pommel horse is an apparatus used only in men's artistic gymnastics. Women's artistic gymnastics features the uneven bars, balance beam, vault, and floor exercise.
A pommel horse has two handles (pommels) on top and is used for swinging routines. A vaulting horse (now largely replaced by the 'vaulting table') is a longer, unpadded apparatus used for the vault event, where gymnasts run and spring over it.
Yes, but in a completely different context meaning 'to strike repeatedly, especially with the fists'. In gymnastics, 'pommel horse' is almost exclusively a noun, though informal verb use (e.g., 'to pommel horse') can occur among athletes.
The apparatus originated from a wooden horse used for military training in ancient times, simulating mounting, dismounting, and performing movements on an actual horse. The modern version evolved from this practical trainer.
A gymnastics apparatus consisting of a long, narrow, padded body (the horse) with two upward-facing handles (pommels) mounted on top, used for performing swinging and circling movements.
Pommel horse is usually formal, technical in register.
Pommel horse: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpʌm.əl hɔːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpɑː.məl hɔːrs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a horse's back. 'Pommel' comes from a word for a rounded knob, like on a saddle. The apparatus looks like a padded horse with two knobs to hold onto.
Conceptual Metaphor
The apparatus is metaphorically a horse that the gymnast 'tames' or 'rides' with complex, controlled movements.
Practice
Quiz
In which sport is the 'pommel horse' a key piece of equipment?