English
pomade
Pomade comes from French pommade ‘ointment’, from Italian pomo ‘apple’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁em- ‘to take’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁em-‘to take’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂po-h₁ém-osreconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*poomos‘fruit’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpōmum‘fruit, apple’
- Italianc. 1300–presentpomo‘apple’
- Italian, derivedc. 1300–presentpomata‘ointment, pomade’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentpommade‘ointment’
- Englishearliest quotation 1680pomade
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁em-‘to take’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂po-h₁ém-osreconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*poomos‘fruit’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpōmum‘fruit, apple’
- Italianc. 1300–presentpomo‘apple’
- Italian, derivedc. 1300–presentpomata‘ointment, pomade’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentpommade‘ointment’
- Englishearliest quotation 1680pomade
Earliest quotation: 1680, T. K., The Kitchin-Phyſician; Or: “With this excellent Pomade you may Anoint your Face…”
The story
Early pomades tended to be various kinds of fat mixed with apples for a more pleasing scent.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₁em- ‘to take’
assume, consumer, premium, resume, assumption, consume, exempt, redemption, ransom, redeem, sumptuous, résumé, consumable, preemption, emptor, overconsumption, 58 more
through Latin pōmum ‘fruit, apple’
Today it means
noun A greasy or waxy substance that is used to style hair, making it look slick and shiny.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₁em- / pomade