Etymology From French ponce, from Latin pūmex. Doublet of pumice.
1
Historical, Usually A type of fine powder, as of sandarac, or cuttlefish bone, sprinkled over wet ink to dry the ink after writing or on rough paper to smooth the writing surface.
At the Thorn, or at a meagre kitchen table, or even on the carpenter’s workbench, he spreads open the portfolio, lights a candle stub, slices a fresh quill, and arranges pounce pot and ink well.2021, A. K. Blakemore, The Manningtree Witches, Granta Books, page 120:
2
Historical, Usually Charcoal dust, or some other coloured powder for making patterns through perforated designs, used by embroiderers, lacemakers, etc.
Derived terms
pounce wheel
pounce
verb
Etymology From French ponce, from Latin pūmex. Doublet of pumice.
1
To sprinkle or rub with pounce powder.
to pounce paper, or a pattern
pounce
noun
Etymology From Middle English pounce, probably akin to punch. Possibly from Old French ponchonner (compare French poinçonner).
1
A sudden leaping attack.
Again the cat jolted the bed with a pounce.1999, Niki Anderson, Inspurrrational Stories for Cat Lovers:
March 22 1775, Edmund Burke, speech in the House of Commons on conciliation with America You have , indeed , winged ministers of vengeance, who carry your bolts in their pounces to the remotest verge of the sea
And from her griping pounce the greedy prey doth quarry1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
3
A punch or stamp.
a pounce to print money with1602, John Withals, A Dictionarie in English and Latine for Children:
4
Cloth worked in eyelet holes.
one spendeth his patrimony upon pounces and cuts1571, John Jewel et al., “An Homily Against excess of apparel”, in The Second Tome of Homilees […] :
5
Business, Mining Synonym of bump (“sudden movement of underground strata”).
pounce
verb
Etymology From Middle English pounce, probably akin to punch. Possibly from Old French ponchonner (compare French poinçonner).
1
To leap into the air intending to seize someone or something.
The kitten pounced at the ball I threw to it.
She pounced on the young man, because she loved him and wanted him for herself.
2
To attack suddenly by leaping.
I was awakened from a dead sleep by my child pouncing on top of me from out of nowhere.
The only thing you can do with virgins like that is pounce!1972, Jay Presson Allen, Cabaret, spoken by Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli):
3
To eagerly seize an opportunity.
I pounced on the chance to get promoted.
While he was out of town on vacation, I pounced, leaking the photos.
2 more examples
Why would I talk to the press and give them a chance to pounce on me?
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.2011 March 2, Chris Whyatt, “Arsenal 5 - 0 Leyton Orient”, in BBC:
4
To strike or seize with the talons; to pierce, as with the talons.
Stooped from his highest pitch to pounce a wren.1782, William Cowper, Table Talk:
Now pounce him lightly, / And as he roars and rages, let's go deeper.1621, John Fletcher, The Pilgrim (play):