Definitions for: Pounce


[n] the act of pouncing
[v] move down on as if in an attack; "The raptor swooped down on its prey"; "The teacher swooped down upon the new students"



Webster (1913) Definition: 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.



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, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pounded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Pouncing.]
To sprinkle or rub with pounce; as, to pounce paper, or a
pattern.


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.

2. A punch or stamp. [Obs.] ``A pounce to print money with.''
--Withals.

3. Cloth worked in eyelet holes. [Obs.] --Homilies.


Pounce, v. 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 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, v. i.
To fall suddenly and seize with the claws; -- with on or
upon; as, a hawk pounces upon a chicken. Also used
figuratively.

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

Synonyms: swoop

See Also: bounce, bound, come down, descend, fall, go down, leap, leaping, saltation, spring, stoop

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