Pounce

[pouns] /paʊns/

verb (used without object), pounced, pouncing.
1.
to swoop down suddenly and grasp, as a bird does in seizing its prey.
2.
to spring, dash, or come suddenly:
Unexpectedly she pounced on the right answer.
verb (used with object), pounced, pouncing.
3.
to seize (prey) suddenly:
The bird quickly pounced its prey.
noun
4.
the claw or talon of a bird of prey.
5.
a sudden swoop, as on an object of prey.
[pouns] /paʊns/
verb (used with object), pounced, pouncing.
1.
to emboss (metal) by hammering on an instrument applied on the reverse side.
[pouns] /paʊns/
noun
1.
a fine powder, as of cuttlebone, formerly used to prevent ink from spreading in writing, or to prepare parchment for writing.
2.
a fine powder, often of charcoal, used in transferring a design through a perforated pattern.
3.
Also called pounce bag, pounce box. a small bag filled with pounce and struck against a perforated design.
verb (used with object), pounced, pouncing.
4.
to sprinkle, smooth, or prepare with pounce.
5.
to trace (a design) with pounce.
6.
to finish the surface of (hats) by rubbing with sandpaper or the like.
/paʊns/
verb
1.
(intransitive; often foll by on or upon) to spring or swoop, as in capturing prey
noun
2.
the act of pouncing; a spring or swoop
3.
the claw of a bird of prey
/paʊns/
verb
1.
(transitive) to emboss (metal) by hammering from the reverse side
/paʊns/
noun
1.
a very fine resinous powder, esp of cuttlefish bone, formerly used to dry ink or sprinkled over parchment or unsized writing paper to stop the ink from running
2.
a fine powder, esp of charcoal, that is tapped through perforations in paper corresponding to the main lines of a design in order to transfer the design to another surface
3.
(as modifier): a pounce box
verb (transitive)
4.
to dust (paper) with pounce
5.
to transfer (a design) by means of pounce
v.

1680s, originally “to seize with the pounces,” from Middle English pownse (n.) “hawk’s claw” (see pounce (n.)). Meaning “to jump or fall upon suddenly” is from 1812. Figurative sense of “lay hold of eagerly” is from 1840. Related: Pounced; pouncing.
n.

“claw of a bird of prey,” late 15c., pownse, probably from Old French ponchon “lance, javelin; spine, quill” (Modern French poinçon; see punch (v.)). So called for being the “claws that punch” holes in things. In falconry, the heel claw is a talon, and others are pounces. Meaning “an act of jumping or falling upon” is from 1825. In Middle English also the name of a tool for punching holes or embossing metal (late 14c.).