pounc´er

pounce¹ «powns», verb, pounced, pounc|ing, noun.

–v.i.

1. to jump suddenly and seize something: »

The cat pounced upon the mouse. Figurative. His mother would pounce…on his remarks as a barn-owl pounces upon a mouse (Samuel Butler).

2. to dash suddenly; come suddenly: »

to pounce onto the stage.

–v.t.

to swoop down upon and seize suddenly: »

As if an eagle…Stoop'd from his highest pitch to pounce a wren (William Cowper).

╂[< noun]

–n.

1. a sudden swoop or pouncing.

2. the claw or talon of a bird of prey.

╂[apparently contraction of Middle English ponchoun an instrument for punching < Old French poinchon; see etym. under puncheon² (Cf. ↑puncheon). See related etym. at punch¹. (Cf. ↑punch)]

pounce² «powns», noun, verb, pounced, pounc|ing.

–n.

1. a fine powder formerly used to prevent ink from spreading in writing, or to prepare parchment for writing.

2. a fine powder used for transferring a design through a stencil.

–v.t.

1. to sprinkle, smooth, or prepare with pounce.

2. to trace (a design) with pounce rubbed through perforations.

╂[< French, Old French ponce < Late Latin pōmex, for Latin pūmex, -icis. See etym. of doublet pumice. (Cf. ↑pumice)]

–pounc´er, noun.