Meaning
A ball made of pieces of soft fabric, tinsel, plastic, or paper streamers, tied together in the middle and left loose at the ends, used as decoration or as a showy prop for cheerleading.
Etymology
Origin: French
Alteration of pompon, from French pompon (“ornamental tuft”); of unknown origin, perhaps related to Old French pomp.
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 15 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-07-31MAILOPT
- 2026-01-11PANICMO
- 2025-06-02OCMEILP
- 2025-05-10MAOHENP
- 2025-05-05PAOMLNR
- 2025-05-01MCPLEOT
- 2025-04-13OMTPNRY
- 2024-11-15MAELOPT
- 2024-08-05MTCPEDO
- 2024-05-05MAPLEOY
- 2024-01-18POAMGEH
- 2024-01-04PTAOLIM
+3 earlier appearances in the archive.