"Pom" (or "Pommy") is Australian/NZ slang for a British person, originating from rhyming slang for "immigrant" (jimmy-grant -> pomegranate -> pommy/pom) or sometimes linked to "Prisoner of Her Majesty," though the latter is less likely given historical timelines. It can also refer to Polyoxymethylene, a type of plastic, or mean Prescription-Only Medicine in a medical context.
pom. A British person, especially one from England. (Originally applied to an immigrant from the British Isles.) The word pom has its origin in wordplay. An early, derisory term for an immigrant in Australia was the rhyming slang jimmygrant (sometimes written as Jimmy Grant), recorded in 1844.
There are several folk etymologies for "pommy" or "pom". The best-documented of these is that "pommy" originated as a contraction of "pomegranate". According to this explanation, "pomegranate" was Australian rhyming slang for "immigrant" (like "Jimmy Grant").
Parent Over My Shoulder
(pronounced as a new word: poms) Online jargon, also known as text message shorthand, used primarily in texting, online chat, instant messaging, email, blogs, and newsgroup postings, these types of abbreviations are also referred to as chat acronyms.
Comes from the acronym POM meaning “Prisoner Of her Majesty” Used as a disparaging term for a British person, especially a recent immigrant. “Pommy” (or “pom”), a slang term for a British person, comes from the acronym POHM, which was used to designate a “Prisoner of His Majesty.”
One attractive explanation claims the letters 'POME' or 'POHM' were stamped on the clothing of British prisoners in the late 1800's, as an acronym of 'Prisoner of Mother England' or 'Prisoner Of Her Majesty. '
Common Australian slang for a girl includes "Sheila" (older, sometimes dated or slightly derogatory), "chick," or just using general terms like "mate," "gal," or "lass," with context and tone being important, but "girl" is still widely used; some slang, like "moll," can refer to a girlfriend or a promiscuous woman, while "bogan" describes an unsophisticated person.
Pom: British person): Australian from 1912. contraction of pomegranate, rhyming slang for immigrant (“imme-granate”). The older term of Jimmy Grant, meaning immigrant, became Pommy Grant as the Australian sun allegedly turned immigrants′ skin pomegranate red.
Program Objective Memorandums (POM) Subordinate activities within each Military Department (e.g. Army Commands, numbered Air Forces and Fleets, acquisition program offices) begin developing their individual budgets as a prelude to the Service Secretary's call for budget estimates.
"Nifty" is an informal slang term meaning very good, clever, stylish, or excellent, used to describe something appealing, ingenious, or well-executed, like "a nifty gadget" or "a nifty idea". It's a versatile adjective that can mean attractive (nifty clothes), skillful (a nifty grab), or just generally great, often implying a clever or neat quality, though it can sound a bit old-fashioned or even ironic today.
"Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy, Oi, Oi, Oi!" is a popular Australian sports chant, a variation of the British "Oggy, Oggy, Oggy" cheer, used to express national pride and support for Australian teams, with "Ozzy" being slang for "Australian" and "Oi, Oi, Oi" a general interjection for enthusiasm or attention, much like "USA!". The chant involves one group shouting "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!" and the crowd responding "Oi, Oi, Oi!".
Mate. “Mate” is a popular word for friend. And while it's used in other English-speaking countries around the world, it has a special connection to Australia.
In Australian English the word dunny is used informally for toilet. It derives from the British dialect word dunnekin meaning 'privy' (from dung 'excrement' and ken 'house'). It was originally used in Australian English, from the 1930s, to refer to an unsewered outside toilet.
By 1912 another rhyming slang term for 'immigrant' had appeared: 'pomegranate' (also written as 'pommygranate' and 'Pommy Grant').” Admittedly, it seems a long way from “immigrant” to Pom, but language moves in mysterious ways, especially in Australia.
Polyoxymethylene (POM), also known as acetal, polyacetal, and polyformaldehyde, is an engineering thermoplastic used in precision parts requiring high stiffness, low friction, and excellent dimensional stability.
The most common Australian slang for toilet is dunny, especially for outdoor or older toilets, while loo is used more generally for indoor toilets, similar to UK usage. Other terms include thunderbox (often for rural/outdoor) and more informal/humorous options like throne, facilities, or the crapper, though "dunny" remains iconic, notes.
Other definitions of POM:
Informal acronym for 'Person Over Me,' indicating a superior or manager in slang workplace contexts. Slang abbreviation for 'Prisoner of Motherhood,' humorously characterizing someone overwhelmed by parenting duties.
It has a low coefficient of friction, making it ideal for precision parts that require tight tolerances. Due to its resistance to wear, impact, and solvents, POM is often used in applications like gears, bearings, automotive parts, and electrical components.
ABUS 064. An annual memorandum in prescribed format submitted to the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) by the DoD Component heads, which recommends the total resource requirements and programs within the parameters of SECDEF's fiscal guidance.
Now superseded by Pom, n. ², Pommy, n. Australian and New Zealand colloquial (usually derogatory). An immigrant (usually a recent one) to Australia or New Zealand from Britain; a British (esp.
Aussie slang words and phrases
Slang words for “friend” include buddy, pal, and chum, and the group of your typical friends can be called the crew. We also have the word peeps (short for “people”) which can mean people in general, or your group of friends (“my peeps”).
Well, you're not alone. Around 87 per cent of Aussies use an affectionate nickname for their romantic partner, ranging from the generic “babe” to the niche and bizarre. According to data from a survey conducted by Preply, the most popular pet names in Australia are baby, honey, sweetie, love and babe.
Cheerio | Goodbye, "see ya later"! There is some unconventional English in our local dialect around outback Australia. As the miners, chaps from the cattle stations or oil rigs come to town to relax you may hear it a bit stronger.
While the word originally referred to physical attractiveness, modern usage is broader. Australians commonly use hottie in a light-hearted, casual way to describe people, outfits, homes, cars, or even design pieces that look great.