Pomate

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. To smooth or groom the hair by working a scented, greasy cosmetic preparation into it
2. Treating hair with a perfumed oily dressing so that it lies flat and glossy
3. Dressing the hair with a waxy or greasy styling product to give it a sleek shine

Etymology: Pomate is a close relative of pomade, the scented hair ointment, and the two words share a surprising origin: the Latin word for "apple." The Latin "pōmum" meant fruit, especially apple, and medieval Latin speakers formed "pomatum" from it, a word that could mean cider or an apple-based ointment. Apples and their pulp were long used in cosmetic preparations, and that practical connection carried the name over from the orchard to the dressing table. Pomate and pomade both come from that medieval "pomatum," and they are doublets, meaning two forms of one source that entered English by different routes. Pomace, the crushed residue left after pressing apples or grapes, is a third member of the same family, linking the word back to its fruit-based beginnings.

Synonyms: pomade, brilliantine, hair cream