Pouncing

pounce ¹  (pouns)

v. pounced, pounc·ing, pounc·es

v.intr.

1. To spring or swoop with intent to seize someone or something: a cat that pounced on a mouse; watched the falcon pounce on the baby rabbit.

2. To attack suddenly: irregular troops who pounced on the convoy at a narrow pass; a colleague who pounced on me because of a mistake in my report.

3. To seize something swiftly and eagerly: pounce on an opportunity.

v.tr.

To seize with or as if with talons.

n.

1. The act or an instance of pouncing.

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

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[From Middle English, pointed tool, talon of a hawk, perhaps variant of ponson, pointed tool; see puncheon¹.]

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pouncer n.

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pounce ²  (pouns)

n.

1. A fine powder formerly used to smooth and finish writing paper and soak up ink.

2. A fine powder, such as pulverized charcoal, dusted over a stencil to transfer a design to an underlying surface.

tr.v. pounced, pounc·ing, pounc·es

1. To sprinkle, smooth, or treat with pounce.

2. To transfer (a stenciled design) with pounce.

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[French ponce, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *pmex, *pmic-, from Latin pmex, pumice.]

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pouncer n.

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pounce ³  (pouns)

tr.v. pounced, pounc·ing, pounc·es

To ornament (metal, for example) by perforating from the back with a pointed implement.

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[Middle English pouncen, probably from Old French poinssonner, from poinson, pointed tool; see puncheon¹.]