I. ˈpau̇n(t)s transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English pounsen, alteration of pounsonen, from Middle French poinçonner to stamp, from poinçon pointed tool — more at puncheon
1. archaic : to ornament with perforations
a mantle of cloth of silver, pounced with his cipher, lined with blue velvet — W.H.Ainsworth
2. : to ornament (metal) by hammering on the reverse side (as in repoussé work) : emboss
3. obsolete
a. : to perforate with a pointed instrument : prick , pierce
b. : tattoo
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, talon, sting, probably by shortening & alteration from punson pointed tool, dagger — more at puncheon
1.
a. : the claw of a bird of prey : talon
from her griping pounce the greedy prey doth rive — Edmund Spenser
b. : something capable of inflicting injury
always ready with a ripping verbal pounce — Carlos Baker
2. now dialect : punch , poke
gave his bedfellow a pounce with his foot to waken him — S.R.Crockett
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
: to seize with or as if with the talons
cannot pounce the quarry on the ground — Gilbert White
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to make an abrupt assault
were suddenly pounced upon by a dozen or more ruffians with clubs — H.A.Chippendale
b. : to seize upon and make capital of something (as another's blunder or ineptitude)
pouncing on the effect of the particular moment … the flicker of transient light — Eric Newton
pounces ferociously on a trivial error of fact — C.W.Shumaker
2. : to spring suddenly or make a sudden grab
ready to pounce at the phone when it rings
pounces on his riding boots … and begins pulling them on — G.B.Shaw
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: pounce (III)
1. : the act of one that pounces
the pounce and sparkle of the … wave — Times Literary Supplement
2. : a card game for from 3 to 12 players in which each person plays his own game of Canfield but may build on any of the aces in the center of the table and which is won by the one who gets rid of his stock first
V. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle French poncer to polish with pumice, from ponce pumice
1. : to put a smooth finish on (a hat) by rubbing with an abrasive
felt bodies are pounced both inside and out — Evolution of Hats
2. archaic : to scatter with small particles : sprinkle , fleck
your azure robe … pounced with stars — Robert Herrick †1674
specifically : to dust (as paper or parchment) with a resinous powder to prevent ink or colors from spreading
3.
a. : to transfer (a design) by applying powder through a perforated outline or stencil
b. : to force (powder) through the perforations of an outline or stencil
VI. noun
( -s )
Etymology: French ponce pumice, from Late Latin pomic-, pomex, from Latin pumic-, pumex — more at foam
1. : a fine powder (as of sandarac with pumice or cuttlefish bone) formerly used to prevent ink from spreading on unsized paper or over an erasure and also to prepare parchment to take writing
2.
[French ponce pounce bag, from (assumed) Middle French ponce, from Middle French ponce pumice]
a. : a fine powder (as pulverized chalk or charcoal) for use with a perforated pattern in transferring a design
b. : a perforated pattern
c. or pounce bag : a small cloth bag filled with powder for pouncing