pouncet

Noun (1)

pounce (usually uncountable, plural pounces)

1. (historical, usually) 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.
   • 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.2021, A. K. Blakemore, The Manningtree Witches, Granta Books, page 120
2. (historical, usually) Charcoal dust, or some other coloured powder for making patterns through perforated designs, used by embroiderers, lacemakers, etc.

Noun (2)

pounce (plural pounces)

1. A sudden leaping attack.
   • Again the cat jolted the bed with a pounce.1999, Niki Anderson, Inspurrrational Stories for Cat Lovers
2. (archaic) The claw or talon of a bird of prey.
   • 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
3. A punch or stamp.
   • a pounce to print money with1602, John Withals, A Dictionarie in English and Latine for Children
4. Cloth worked in eyelet holes.
   • one spendeth his patrimony upon pounces and cuts1571, John Jewel et al., “An Homily Against excess of apparel”, in The Second Tome of Homilees […]

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