n. [ F. ] 1. Any trifling ornament for a woman's dress or bonnet. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (Mil.) A tuft or ball of wool, or the like, sometimes worn by soldiers on the front of the hat (such as a shako), instead of a feather. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ] 3. (a) A hardy garden chrysanthemum having buttonlike heads of flowers. (b) Any of several dwarf varieties of the Provence rose. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ] 4. the globe-shaped flower head characteristic of certain plants such as dahlias and chrysanthemums. [ PJC ] 5. a ball-shaped cluster of ribbons or streamers held in the hand and waved by some cheerleaders at team sports contests. See pompom girl. Called also pompom. [ PJC ] |