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.
