Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

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.

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.

Source : WordNet®

pounce
     n : the act of pouncing
     v : move down on as if in an attack; "The raptor swooped down on
         its prey"; "The teacher swooped down upon the new
         students" [syn: {swoop}]