D defs.my
Menu ☰
Entry 9 senses · 5 variants Webster, 1913

Pounce

/pouns/ · IPA /paʊns/
01 n. A fine powder, as of sandarac, or cuttlefish bone, -- formerly used to prevent ink from spreading on manuscript.
  1. 1.
    A fine powder, as of sandarac, or cuttlefish bone, -- formerly used to prevent ink from spreading on manuscript.
  2. 2.
    Charcoal dust, or some other colored powder for making patterns through perforated designs, -- used by embroiderers, lace makers, etc.
Phrases & compounds
Pounce box — a box for sprinkling pounce.
Pounce paper — a transparent paper for tracing.
02 v. t. To sprinkle or rub with pounce; as, to pounce paper, or a pattern.
imp. & p. p. Pounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Pouncing
  1. 1.
    To sprinkle or rub with pounce; as, to pounce paper, or a pattern.
03 n. The claw or talon of a bird of prey.
  1. 1.
    The claw or talon of a bird of prey.
  2. 2.
    A punch or stamp.[Obs.]
  3. 3.
    Cloth worked in eyelet holes.[Obs.]
04 v. t. To strike or seize with the talons; to pierce, as with the talons.
  1. 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. 2.
    To punch; to perforate; to stamp holes in, or dots on, by way of ornament.[Obs.]
05 v. i. To fall suddenly and seize with the claws; -- with on or upon; as, a hawk pounces upon a chicken. Also used figuratively.
  1. 1.
    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.