pounce

¹

[ pouns ]

verb (used without object)

, pounced, pounc·ing.

1. to swoop down suddenly and grasp, as a bird does in seizing its prey.
2. to spring, dash, or come suddenly:

   Unexpectedly she pounced on the right answer.

verb (used with object)

, pounced, pounc·ing.

1. to seize (prey) suddenly:

   The bird quickly pounced its prey.

noun

1. the claw or talon of a bird of prey.
2. a sudden swoop, as on an object of prey.

   Synonyms: spring, lunge, leap

pounce

²

[ pouns ]

verb (used with object)

, pounced, pounc·ing.

1. to emboss (metal) by hammering on an instrument applied on the reverse side.

pounce

³

[ pouns ]

noun

1. a fine powder, as of cuttlebone, formerly used to prevent ink from spreading in writing, or to prepare parchment for writing.
2. a fine powder, often of charcoal, used in transferring a design through a perforated pattern.
3. Also called pounce bag,. a small bag filled with pounce and struck against a perforated design.

verb (used with object)

, pounced, pounc·ing.

1. to sprinkle, smooth, or prepare with pounce.
2. to trace (a design) with pounce.
3. to finish the surface of (hats) by rubbing with sandpaper or the like.

pounce

¹

/ paʊns /

verb

1. tr to emboss (metal) by hammering from the reverse side

pounce

²

/ paʊns /

verb

1. intr; often foll by on or upon to spring or swoop, as in capturing prey

noun

1. the act of pouncing; a spring or swoop
2. the claw of a bird of prey

pounce

³

/ paʊns /

noun

1. a very fine resinous powder, esp of cuttlefish bone, formerly used to dry ink or sprinkled over parchment or unsized writing paper to stop the ink from running
2. a fine powder, esp of charcoal, that is tapped through perforations in paper corresponding to the main lines of a design in order to transfer the design to another surface
3. ( as modifier )

   a pounce box

verb

1. to dust (paper) with pounce
2. to transfer (a design) by means of pounce

Derived Forms

• ˈpouncer, noun
• ˈpouncer, noun

Other Words From

• pouncing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of pounce¹

First recorded in 1375–1425 pounce ¹( fordef 4 ); late Middle English; perhaps akin to punch ¹

Origin of pounce²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English pounsen, pounson, punchen, perhaps identical with pounce ¹

Origin of pounce³

First recorded in 1700–10; from French ponce, ultimately from Latin pūmic-, stem of pūmex pumice

Word History and Origins

Origin of pounce¹

C15 pounsen, from Old French poinçonner to stamp; perhaps the same as pounce ¹

Origin of pounce²

C17: apparently from Middle English punson pointed tool; see puncheon ²

Origin of pounce³

C18: from Old French ponce, from Latin pūmex pumice

Example Sentences

Adapting to the slowness of the pitch, he played none of his trademark dabs to third man, instead pouncing to whip through the leg side any time England dropped short.

From BBC

The fifth-grader batted it over to his father, who pounced on it, stood up and handed it back to his son.

From Los Angeles Times

He got a married woman with two children to “escort” him to his room and then pounced.

From Salon

"All of a sudden there was a horrendous growl and this dog came running and pounced on Alfred," Ms Gunston said.

From BBC

Then, in what Betts called a “crazy” top of the fifth, the boys in blue pounced on errors and gaffes, scoring five runs and wiping out the Yankees’ 5-0 lead.

From Los Angeles Times