Pounce \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.
Pounce \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 \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 \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 \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.
While Bush was quick to pounce on Dukakis' opposition to the MX and Midgetman, he was slower to admit that he could not afford both, if elected.
Bednarz said the most common tactic, which he called the surprise pounce, required the hawks to attack a rabbit from several different directions at once, forcing it to stay away from cover.
Material like that I pounce on.
The method is so flexible that the MTR can pounce on cheap borrowing opportunities overseas with the knowledge that swaps can then be carried out in Hong Kong.
'But Labour still looks totally unconvincing as a government and still ominous, with its hidden left waiting to pounce if they come to power.' Roland Adburgham will visit the voters again after the Conservative party conference next week.
In theory, the B-2 could pounce on targets before an enemy knew it was coming.
They watch every pilgrim approaching the lake and pounce on potential clients.
During the election ministers seized on every opportunity to pounce when Labour spokesmen hinted at additional spending commitments.
Thus, he adopted a relatively passive strategy of lowering the prices at which the fund will buy certain shares, of bargain-hunting, and of letting cash accumulate to be able to pounce at the right moment.