What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Ponce vs Pounce - What's the difference?

ponce | pounce |

As nouns the difference between ponce and pounce

is that ponce is a man employed by a prostitute to find clients, and who may also act as a bodyguard and driver. A ponce is different from a pimp in being the prostitute's employee, not the employer while pounce is a type of fine powder, as of sandarac, or cuttlefish bone, sprinkled over wet ink to dry the ink after writing.

As verbs the difference between ponce and pounce

is that ponce is to act as a pimp while pounce is to sprinkle or rub with pounce powder.

ponce

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (British, slang) A man employed by a prostitute to find clients, and who may also act as a bodyguard and driver. A ponce is different from a pimp in being the prostitute's employee, not the employer.
  • (British, pejorative) A posh or effeminate person.
  • Verb

  • (British, slang) To act as a pimp.
  • (British, slang) Hence, to try to get rid of or proactively sell something.
  • (British, pejorative) To behave in a posh or effeminate manner.
  • (British, slang) To borrow (something) from somebody without returning it.
  • Derived terms

    * ponce wheel * poncey

    Anagrams

    * ----

    pounce

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) ponce, from (etyl) pumex.

    Noun

    (-)
  • (historical) A type of fine powder, as of sandarac, or cuttlefish bone, sprinkled over wet ink to dry the ink after writing.
  • (historical) Charcoal dust, or some other coloured powder for making patterns through perforated designs, used by embroiderers, lace makers, etc.
  • Verb

    (pounc)
  • To sprinkle or rub with pounce powder.
  • to pounce paper, or a pattern

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl), probably akin to punch. Possibly from (etyl) ponchonner (compare French ).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The claw or talon of a bird of prey.
  • (Burke)
    (Spenser)
  • A punch or stamp.
  • * Withals
  • a pounce to print money with
  • Cloth worked in eyelet holes.
  • (Homilies)

    Verb

    (pounc)
  • To leap into the air intending to seize someone or something.
  • ''The kitten pounced at the ball I threw to him
    She pounced on the young man, because she loved him and wanted him for herself.
  • To attack suddenly by leaping.
  • ''I was awakened from a dead sleep by my child pouncing on top of me from out of nowhere.
  • To eagerly seize an opportunity.
  • I pounced on the chance to get promoted.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=March 2 , author=Chris Whyatt , title=Arsenal 5 - 0 Leyton Orient , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Irish debutant Conor Henderson - another ball-playing midfielder - probed for a gap through the back-line and the 19-year-old's deflected pass was pounced on by Tomas Rosicky, who sped to the byeline to clip a square ball through the legs of Charlie Daniels across the box. }}
  • To strike or seize with the talons; to pierce, as with the talons.
  • * Cowper
  • Stooped from his highest pitch to pounce a wren.
  • * J. Fletcher
  • Now pounce him lightly, / And as he roars and rages, let's go deeper.
  • To stamp holes in; to perforate.
  • Synonyms
    * (instance of propelling oneself into air): leap, jump, bounce * (instance of causing oneself to fall from an elevated place): strike, attack (checktrans-top) * Spanish: (t-check) (trans-mid) (trans-bottom)