Pounce

/paʊns/ · noun

Meaning

(historical) 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..

Definitions by Sense

1. (historical) 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.
2. (historical) Charcoal dust, or some other coloured powder for making patterns through perforated designs, used by embroiderers, lacemakers, etc.
3. (transitive) To sprinkle or rub with pounce powder.
4. A sudden leaping attack.
5. (archaic) The claw or talon of a bird of prey.
6. A punch or stamp.
7. Cloth worked in eyelet holes.
8. (mining) Synonym of bump (“sudden movement of underground strata”).

Example Sentences

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.

to pounce paper, or a pattern

Again the cat jolted the bed with a pounce.

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 quarry

a pounce to print money with

one spendeth his patrimony upon pounces and cuts

The kitten pounced at the ball I threw to it.

Synonyms for pounce

Antonyms for pounce

Related Words

Word Forms

• pounces
• pouncing
• pounced

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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