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A pom-pom – also spelled pom-pon, pompom or pompon – is a decorative ball or tuft of fibrous material.
The term may refer to large tufts used by cheerleaders, or a small, tighter ball attached to the top of a hat, also known as a bobble or toorie.
Pom-poms may come in many colours, sizes, and varieties and are made from a wide array of materials, including
Cheerleading innovator Lawrence Herkimer received a patent for the pom-pom in 1968. His original patent application, for which he called the invention ''pom-pon'', mentioned that they were made out of crepe paper or other similar material. Since then pom-poms have been made of plastic but mylar (also called BoPET) has become increasingly popular in recent years.
Cheerleading pom-poms come in a variety of shapes, styles, colors, color combinations, and sizes. The most common size, the works most age groups or performance type. This size can be used for dance teams, pom squads, cheerleaders, and majorettes, easily making it the most versatile strand length on the market. The second most common size, the , is adequate for any age group or performance type, but the marginally shorter strands provide the necessary flash while acting more as an accent to the uniform.
Pom-poms are also waved by sports fans, primarily at college and high school sports events in the United States. These inexpensive, light-weight ''faux'' pom-poms, or rooter poms, typically come in team colors, are sometimes given away or sold to spectators at such events.
Finger pom poms (8399154868).jpg, Finger pom poms
Adelaide cheer squad.1.jpg, Fans waving floggers behind the goals to signify that a goal was scored.
Shako-p1000580.jpg,
wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have some properties similar to animal w ...
, cotton
Cotton (), first recorded in ancient India, is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure ...
, paper
Paper is a thin sheet material produced by mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibres derived from wood, Textile, rags, poaceae, grasses, Feces#Other uses, herbivore dung, or other vegetable sources in water. Once the water is dra ...
, plastic
Plastics are a wide range of synthetic polymers, synthetic or Semisynthesis, semisynthetic materials composed primarily of Polymer, polymers. Their defining characteristic, Plasticity (physics), plasticity, allows them to be Injection moulding ...
, thread, glitter
Glitter is an assortment of flat, small, reflective particles that are precision cut and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Glitter particles resemble confetti, sparkles and sequins, but somewhat smaller.
Since prehistoric times ...
and occasionally feather
Feathers are epidermal growths that form a distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on both avian (bird) and some non-avian dinosaurs and other archosaurs. They are the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates and an exa ...
s. Pom-poms are shaken by cheerleaders, pom or dance teams, and sports fans during spectator sports.
Etymology and spelling
''Pom-pom'', also called a ''pom'' or ''cheerleading pom'', is derived from the French word ''pompon'', which refers to a small decorative ball made of fabric or feathers. It also means an "ornamental round tuft" and originally refers to its use on a hat, or an "ornamental tuft; tuft-like flower head." *''Webster's Third New International Dictionary
''Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged'' (commonly known as ''Webster's Third'', or ''W3'') is an American English-language dictionary published in September 1961. It was edited by Philip Babcock Gove a ...
'' (1961) gives the spelling as "pompon."
*The ''New Oxford American Dictionary
The ''New Oxford American Dictionary'' (''NOAD'') is a single-volume dictionary of American English compiled by American editors at the Oxford University Press.
''NOAD'' is based upon the '' New Oxford Dictionary of English'' (''NODE''), publishe ...
'' (third edition, 2010) gives the spelling as "pom-pom."
*The ''American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
''The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language'' (''AHD'') is a dictionary of American English published by HarperCollins. It is currently in its fifth edition (since 2011).
Before HarperCollins acquired certain business lines from H ...
'' (5th edition, 2011) gives the spelling as "pompom" or "pompon."
*''Webster's New World College Dictionary'' (fourth edition) gives the spelling as "pompom."
Sports and cheerleading
Cheerleading innovator Lawrence Herkimer received a patent for the pom-pom in 1968. His original patent application, for which he called the invention ''pom-pon'', mentioned that they were made out of crepe paper or other similar material. Since then pom-poms have been made of plastic but mylar (also called BoPET) has become increasingly popular in recent years.
Cheerleading pom-poms come in a variety of shapes, styles, colors, color combinations, and sizes. The most common size, the works most age groups or performance type. This size can be used for dance teams, pom squads, cheerleaders, and majorettes, easily making it the most versatile strand length on the market. The second most common size, the , is adequate for any age group or performance type, but the marginally shorter strands provide the necessary flash while acting more as an accent to the uniform.
Pom-poms are also waved by sports fans, primarily at college and high school sports events in the United States. These inexpensive, light-weight ''faux'' pom-poms, or rooter poms, typically come in team colors, are sometimes given away or sold to spectators at such events.
Clothing
Toorie
In reference to Scottish Highland dress and Scottish military uniforms, the small pom-pom on the crown of such hats as the Balmoral, the Glengarry, and the Tam o' Shanter is called a "toorie." The toorie is generally made of yarn and is traditionally red on both Balmorals and Glengarries (although specific units have used other colours). It has evolved into the smaller pom-pom found on older-style golf caps and the button atopbaseball cap
A baseball cap is a type of soft cap, hat with a rounded crown and a stiff bill projecting in front.
The front of the hat typically displays a design or a logo (historically, usually only a sports team, namely a baseball team, or names of releva ...
s.
The word toorie is used for any such hat decoration in the Scots language, irrespective of the headgear.
Toys and bicycles
Pom-poms are sometimes used as children's toys. They are a common feature at the ends of the handlebars of children'stricycle
A tricycle, sometimes abbreviated to trike, is a Human-powered transport, human-powered (or gasoline or electric motor powered or assisted, or gravity powered) Three-wheeler, three-wheeled vehicle.
Some tricycles, such as cycle rickshaws (for pa ...
s and bicycle
A bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike, push-bike or cycle, is a human-powered transport, human-powered or motorized bicycle, motor-assisted, bicycle pedal, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, with two bicycle wheel, wheels attached to a ...
s. They are also used in children's artistic crafts to add texture and color.
Pom poms is also commonly used for gift wrapping and in parties and occasions to add a flair of fun.
Gallery
Shako
A shako (, , or ) is a tall, cylindrical military cap, usually with a visor, and sometimes tapered at the top. It is usually adorned with an ornamental plate or Cap badge, badge on the front, metallic or otherwise; and often has a feather, hackle ...
dating from the Bourbon Restoration with a red company pompon.
EvzoneTsarouhiKaltsodetes.jpg, Greek Presidential Guard shoes.
Pom poms multiple colours.jpg, Pile of pom-poms used for children's crafts.
References
{{Reflist Cheerleading Parts of clothing Dance props Textile arts