POUNCE

pounce

(noun) the act of pouncing

pounce, swoop

(verb) move down on as if in an attack; “The raptor swooped down on its prey”; “The teacher swooped down upon the new students”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Noun

pounce (usually uncountable, plural pounces)

(historical) A type of fine powder, as of sandarac, or cuttlefish bone, sprinkled over wet ink to dry the ink after writing or on rough paper to smooth the writing surface.

(historical) Charcoal dust, or some other coloured powder for making patterns through perforated designs, used by embroiderers, lacemakers, etc.

Verb

pounce (third-person singular simple present pounces, present participle pouncing, simple past and past participle pounced)

(transitive) To sprinkle or rub with pounce powder.

Etymology 2

Noun

pounce (plural pounces)

A sudden leaping attack.

The claw or talon of a bird of prey.

A punch or stamp.

Cloth worked in eyelet holes.

Verb

pounce (third-person singular simple present pounces, present participle pouncing, simple past and past participle pounced)

(intransitive) To leap into the air intending to seize someone or something.

(intransitive) To attack suddenly by leaping.

(intransitive) To eagerly seize an opportunity.

(transitive) To strike or seize with the talons; to pierce, as with the talons.

(transitive) To stamp holes in; to perforate.

Synonyms

• (instance of propelling oneself into air): leap, jump, bounce

• (instance of causing oneself to fall from an elevated place): strike, attack

Anagrams

• Cupeño

Source: Wiktionary


Pounce, n. Etym: [F. ponce pumice, pounce, fr. L. pumex, -icis, pumice. See Pumice.]

1. A fine powder, as of sandarac, or cuttlefish bone, -- formerly used to prevent ink from spreading on manuscript.

2. Charcoal dust, or some other colored powder for making patterns through perforated designs, -- used by embroiderers, lace makers, etc. Pounce box, a box for sprinkling pounce.

– Pounce paper, a transparent paper for tracing.

Pounce, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Pouncing.]

Definition: To sprinkle or rub with pounce; as, to pounce paper, or a pattern.

Pounce, n. Etym: [Prob. through French, from an assumed LL. punctiare to prick, L. pungere, punctum. See Puncheon, Punch, v. t.]

1. The claw or talon of a bird of prey. Spenser. Burke.

2. A punch or stamp. [Obs.] "A pounce to print money with." Withals.

3. Cloth worked in eyelet holes. [Obs.] Homilies.

Pounce, v. t.

1. To strike or seize with the talons; to pierce, as with the talons. [Archaic] Stooped from his highest pitch to pounce a wren. Cowper. Now pounce him lightly, And as he roars and rages, let's go deeper. J. Fletcher.

2. To punch; to perforate; to stamp holes in, or dots on, by way of ornament. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.

Pounce, v. i.

Definition: To fall suddenly and seize with the claws; -- with on or upon; as, a hawk pounces upon a chicken. Also used figuratively. Derision is never so agonizing as when it pounces on the wanderings of misguided sensibility. Jeffrey.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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