Pounce

Pounce (pouns), 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 (pouns), 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.