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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

5 entries under this word

Pounce

Pounce, n.

noun

n. [Fr. ponce, pumice, pounce, from Lat. pumex, pumicis; Sp. ponce, pomez, Pg. pomex, It. pomice. See PUMICE.]

  1. A fine powder used to prevent ink from spreading on paper, as sandarac pulverized.
  2. Charcoal dust, or some other colored powdered substance, inclosed in an open stuff, as muslin, to be passed over holes pricked in the work, to mark the lines or designs on a paper underneath.

☞ This kind of pounce is used by embroiderers to transfer their patterns upon their stuffs, also by lace-makers, and sometimes by engravers. It is also used in varnishing. 3. A hole stamped or worked in cloth for ornamentation; a pouncing. [Obs.]

Pounce, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. POUNCED (pounst); p. pr. & vb. n. POUNCING.] To sprinkle or rub with pounce; as, to pounce paper for writing on; to pounce a pattern.

Pounce, n.

noun

n. [Norm. Fr. ponce, hand, from Lat. pugnus, a fist.] The claw or talon of a bird of prey.

Winged ministers of vengeance who carry your bolts in their pounces to the remotest verge of the sea. Burke.

Pounce, v. t.

verbtransitive

[imp. & p. p. POUNCED (pounst); p. pr. & vb. n. POUNCING.] 1. To prick, as with a claw or talon. [Obs.] Now pounce him lightly. And as he roars and rages, let's go deeper. J. Fletcher. 2. To pierce with a sharp instrument; to perforate; to stamp holes in by way of ornament; to punch. “A short coat garded and pounced after the galiarde fashion.” Sir T. Elyot.

Pounce, v. i.

verbintransitive

To fall suddenly; to fall and seize with the claws;— with on or upon; as, a rapacious bird pounces upon a chicken.

Derision is never so agonizing as when it pounces on the wanderings of misguided sensibility. Jeffrey.