pounce

pounce
pounce1
—pouncingly, adv.
/powns/, v., pounced, pouncing, n.
v.i.
1. to swoop down suddenly and grasp, as a bird does in seizing its prey.
2. to spring, dash, or come suddenly: Unexpectedly she pounced on the right answer.
v.t.
3. to seize (prey) suddenly: The bird quickly pounced its prey.
n.
4. the claw or talon of a bird of prey.
5. a sudden swoop, as on an object of prey.
[1375-1425; late ME; perh. akin to PUNCH1]
Syn. 5. leap, lunge, spring.
pounce2
/powns/, v.t., pounced, pouncing.
to emboss (metal) by hammering on an instrument applied on the reverse side.
[1350-1400; ME; perh. identical with POUNCE1]
pounce3
—pouncer, n.
/powns/, n., v., pounced, pouncing.
n.
1. a fine powder, as of cuttlebone, formerly used to prevent ink from spreading in writing, or to prepare parchment for writing.
2. a fine powder, often of charcoal, used in transferring a design through a perforated pattern.
3. Also, pounce bag. a small bag filled with pounce and struck against a perforated design.
v.t.
4. to sprinkle, smooth, or prepare with pounce.
5. to trace (a design) with pounce.
6. to finish the surface of (hats) by rubbing with sandpaper or the like.
[1700-10; < F ponce L pumicem, acc. of pumex PUMICE]

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • pounce — [pauns] v [Date: 1600 1700; Origin: pounce [i] claw (15 19 centuries), probably from puncheon pointed weapon (14 20 centuries), from Old French poinchon] to suddenly move forward and attack someone or something, after waiting to attack them ▪ The …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Pounce — Pounce, n. [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. [1913 Webster] 2. Charcoal dust, or some other… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pounce — may refer to: *Pounce (calligraphy), a powder used to prevent ink from spreading and to blot up excess ink. *Pounce (cat treats), a brand of cat treats *Another name for the card game Nertz, a fast paced, multiplayer version of Solitaire *Pounce! …   Wikipedia

  • Pounce — Pounce, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pounded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pouncing}.] To sprinkle or rub with pounce; as, to pounce paper, or a pattern. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pounce — Pounce, v. t. 1. To strike or seize with the talons; to pierce, as with the talons. [Archaic] [1913 Webster] Stooped from his highest pitch to pounce a wren. Cowper. [1913 Webster] Now pounce him lightly, And as he roars and rages, let s go… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pounce — Pounce, n. [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. [1913 Webster] 2. A punch or stamp. [Obs.] A pounce to print… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pounce — pounce1 [pouns] n. [ME pownce, talon, prob. altered < MFr poinçon, sharp instrument, stiletto: see PUNCHEON1] 1. a claw or talon of a bird of prey 2. the act of pouncing; swoop, spring, or leap vi. pounced, pouncing to swoop down, spring, or… …   English World dictionary

  • Pounce — Pounce, v. i. To fall suddenly and seize with the claws; with on or upon; as, a hawk pounces upon a chicken. Also used figuratively. [1913 Webster] Derision is never so agonizing as when it pounces on the wanderings of misguided sensibility.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pounce! — Pounce!, Cat and mouse, Buttons, Catch me if you can and Not now but now are some of the names used for a children s game and drinking game, usually played by at least three players. One player, the cat, has a cup, toilet plunger, or other… …   Wikipedia

  • pounce — [ pauns ] verb intransitive 1. ) to quickly jump on or hold someone or something: They pounced on their suspect. 2. ) to react in a very sudden way, especially by criticizing someone: White House aides pounced on the remark. ╾ pounce noun count …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • pounce — (v.) 1680s, originally to seize with the pounces, from pownse (n.) hawk s claws (late 15c.), from O.Fr. poinçon (see punch (v.)), on the notion of the claws that punch holes in things. In falconry, the heel claw is a talon, and others are pounces …   Etymology dictionary

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