pommel horse
1
7.3
- noun
- /ˈpɑːməl hɔːrs/
- Specialized
:
caballo de pommel
- The gymnast performed an impressive routine on the pommel horse that wowed the judges.
- bars and pommel horse
- parallel bars and pommel horse
- pommel horse and vault
Examples
-
Waller began the competition with a score of 9.70 on the pommel horse, his highest mark of the day.
-
If I have to jump over another pommel horse, or whatever they're called.
-
This girl's a champion pommel horse gymnast.
-
John Orozco of the United States of America competes in the pommel horse in the Artistic Gymnastics Men's Team qualification on Day 1 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at North Greenwich Arena on July 28, 2012.
Blog text (15) -
Peter shows off his skills on the pommel horse during the gymnastics competition.
Synonyms
28
7.7
A padded piece of equipment on legs used for vaulting in gymnastics
A leather-covered round piece with two handles used by men in gymnastics
A padded piece of equipment with legs that people vault over to practice balance and jumping skills
How Complex
- Specialized
1
7.3
- Specialized
1
3.6
87
3.7
- Specialized
- Archaic
1
6.9
1
1.6
Surface Forms
Morphology
pommel + horse
The compound combines a concrete referent 'horse' (here a horse-shaped object) with 'pommel' (projections/handles), so the overall idea — an object shaped like a horse with pommels used in gymnastics — is partly inferable from the parts. However, it is a specialised sports term and the exact apparatus and function are not fully predictable for a B1 learner (especially since 'pommel' is low-frequency and often defined circularly), so prior exposure or domain knowledge is typically needed.
Etymology
Pommel horse may come from a wooden practice 'horse' with two knobs called pommels. Riders used that 'horse' to 'practice' getting on and keeping their balance, and gymnasts later used a similar machine, so the name now means the gymnastic apparatus.