Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Pounce
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
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Pounded
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Pouncing
.] To sprinkle or rub with pounce;
as, to
. pounce
paper, or a patternPounce
,Noun.
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
,Verb.
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
And as he roars and rages, let’s go deeper.
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
,Verb.
I.
To fall suddenly and seize with the claws; – with on or upon;
as, a hawk
. Also used figuratively. pounces
upon a chickenDerision is never so agonizing as when it
pounces
on the wanderings of misguided sensibility. Jeffrey.
Webster 1828 Edition
Pounce
POUNCE
,Noun.
1.
Gum-sandarach pulverized, a fine powder used to prevent ink from spreading on paper.2.
Charcoal dust inclosed in some open stuff, as muslin, &c. 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.
Cloth worked in eyelet-holes.POUNCE
,Verb.
T.
POUNCE
,Noun.
POUNCE
,Verb.
I.
Definition 2024
pounce
pounce
English
Noun
pounce (uncountable)
- (historical) A type of fine powder, as of sandarac, or cuttlefish bone, sprinkled over wet ink to dry the ink after writing.
- (historical) Charcoal dust, or some other coloured powder for making patterns through perforated designs, used by embroiderers, lace makers, 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.
- to pounce paper, or a pattern
Etymology 2
From Middle English, probably akin to punch. Possibly from Old French ponchonner (compare French poinçonner).
Noun
pounce (plural pounces)
- The claw or talon of a bird of prey.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Burke to this entry?)
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Spenser to this entry?)
- A punch or stamp.
- Withals
- a pounce to print money with
- Withals
- Cloth worked in eyelet holes.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Homilies to this entry?)
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.
- The kitten pounced at the ball I threw to him
- She pounced on the young man, because she loved him and wanted him for herself.
- (intransitive) To attack suddenly by leaping.
- I was awakened from a dead sleep by my child pouncing on top of me from out of nowhere.
- (intransitive) To eagerly seize an opportunity.
- I pounced on the chance to get promoted.
- 2011 March 2, Chris Whyatt, “Arsenal 5 - 0 Leyton Orient”, in BBC:
- Irish debutant Conor Henderson - another ball-playing midfielder - probed for a gap through the back-line and the 19-year-old's deflected pass was pounced on by Tomas Rosicky, who sped to the byeline to clip a square ball through the legs of Charlie Daniels across the box.
- (transitive) To strike or seize with the talons; to pierce, as with the talons.
- Cowper
- Stooped from his highest pitch to pounce a wren.
- J. Fletcher
- Now pounce him lightly, / And as he roars and rages, let's go deeper.
- Cowper
- (transitive) To stamp holes in; to perforate.
Translations
To leap into the air intending to seize someone or something
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To attack suddenly
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To eagerly seize an opportunity
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