n.
Pronunciation: ' p ə n-ch ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English ponson, punchon, from Anglo-French ponchon pointed tool, support, ultimately from Vulgar Latin *punctiare to prick, pierce, from Latin punctum, supine of pungere ― more at PUNGENT
Date: 14th century
1 : a pointed tool for piercing or for working on stone
2 a : a short upright framing timber b : a split log or heavy slab with the face smoothed