pomegranate [ME] Our name for this fruit comes from Old French pome grenate, from pome ‘apple’ and grenate, which meant ‘pomegranate’ but was based on Latin granatum, ‘having many seeds’. Similarly, pomander [LME] for a perforated container of sweet-smelling substances is from Old French pome d’embre, from medieval Latin pomum de ambra ‘apple of ambergris’. Apples are again found in pommel [ME]. This once described a decorative ball or finial at the top point of something. It is from Old French pomel ‘little apple’. See also grenade.