Related Searches
Nearby Words

pomander

 [poh-man-der, poh-man-der]  

po·man·der

   [poh-man-der, poh-man-der]
noun
1.
a mixture of aromatic substances, often in the form of a ball, formerly carried on the person as a supposed guard against infection but now placed in closets, dressers, etc.
2.
the ball, box, or other case in which it was formerly carried.
Pomander Balls partysupplies.bizrate.com Make the Party Memorable. Discover Pomander Balls!
Ad
Origin:
1425–75; earlier pomaundre, pomemandre, late Middle English pomendambre < Middle French pome d'ambre (compare obsolete English pom(e)amber) < Medieval Latin pōmum ambrē (Latin ambrae) literally, apple of amber. See pome, amber
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To pomander

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Pomander is always a great word to know.
So is gobo. Does it mean:
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Collins
World English Dictionary
pomander (pəʊˈmændə)
 
—n
1.  a mixture of aromatic substances in a sachet or an orange, formerly carried as scent or as a protection against disease
2.  a container for such a mixture
 
[C15: from Old French pome d'ambre, from Medieval Latin pōmum ambrae apple of amber]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia

pomander

small metal (sometimes china) container designed to hold a ball of aromatic spices or herbs. Worn suspended from neck or girdle or attached to the finger by a ring, it was believed to be a protection against infections and noxious smells. As fashionable jewelry in the late Middle Ages, pomanders were decorative objects often enriched with gems and enamels. Late in the 16th century, the original sphere shape was divided into several segments in order to accommodate a variety of powdered spices, and soon afterward pomanders in the form of dice, skulls, and books appeared.

Learn more about pomander with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriThesaurus
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT
How many words do you know? FIND OUT