Pom-pom

A pom-pom (also spelled pompom, pompon or pom-pon) is a decorative ball or bunch of fibrous material, such as wool, paper, plastic or feathers.

The word comes from the French word pompon. This came from the older French word pompe, meaning a bunch of ribbons. The word was first used in English in 1751.^[1]

Cheerleaders shake pom-poms to cheer on sports teams. The bright colors and movement make their routines easier for the crowd to see. Early cheerleading pom-poms were made of paper. In 1965, Fred Gastoff came up with pom-poms made of vinyl (a kind of plastic). Vinyl pom-poms became the normal kind used by cheerleaders.^[2]

Small pom-poms are often sewn onto the top of knitted winter hats. These are sometimes called "bobble hats". In the past, pom-poms were often put on military uniforms in France and other European countries. They showed which group a soldier belonged to and his rank.^[3]

Pom-poms are used at holiday celebrations, especially New Year parties. They are also used in crafts and on toys. Some dahlia and chrysanthemum flowers are called "pompon" types because their flower heads are small and round.^[4]