Pomos

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Plural for a type of architectural finial, often a knob or ornament at the top of a structure ; colloquially, a shorthand for Postmodernists or postmodern theorists in academic contexts
2. Used to refer to decorative knob-like features that cap buildings or furniture pieces ; also informally designates adherents or scholars of Postmodernism
3. Denotes multiple instances of a rounded decorative ending on architectural or artistic works ; can casually label those affiliated with or influenced by Postmodern philosophies

Etymology: Ancient Greek builders had a word for the ornamental knob that crowned a roof's peak, and English took it over as a technical term for the same object. The Greek "pōmos" meant a lid, plug or stopper, from the same idea of something that covers an opening. Applied to architecture, the name describes a roof's topmost piece as a cap that closes off the highest point of the structure. Its use in English stays within architecture and classical scholarship, which is why it reads as specialist vocabulary. Its plural is "pomoi," following the Greek plural pattern, and the English singular is the form given here. The sense of "covering" survives in the object's purpose, since the knob sits where the roof's slopes meet and caps the apex.

Synonyms: knobs, handles, grips