Part 446

Poul"tice (?), n. [L. puls, pl. pultes, a thick pap; akin to Gr. po`ltos. Cf. Pulse seeds.] A soft composition, as of bread, bran, or a mucilaginous substance, to be applied to sores, inflamed parts of the body, etc.; a cataplasm. "Poultice relaxeth the pores." Bacon.

Poul"tice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Poulticed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Poulticing (?).] To apply a poultice to; to dress with a poultice.

Poul"tive (?), n. A poultice. [Obs.] W. Temple.

Poul"try (?), n. [From Poult.] Domestic fowls reared for the table, or for their eggs or feathers, such as cocks and hens, capons, turkeys, ducks, and geese.

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.

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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 (?), 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, 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, 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, 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.

Pounced (?), a. 1. Furnished with claws or talons; as, the pounced young of the eagle. Thomson.

2. Ornamented with perforations or dots. [Obs.] "Gilt bowls pounced and pierced." Holinshed.

Poun"cet box` (?). [Cf. F. poncette, fr. ponce pounce. See Pounce a powder.] A box with a perforated lid, for sprinkling pounce, or for holding perfumes. Shak.

Poun"cing (?), n. 1. The art or practice of transferring a design by means of pounce.

2. Decorative perforation of cloth. [Obs.]

Pound (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Pounding.] [OE. pounen, AS. punian to bruise. Cf. Pun a play on words.] 1. To strike repeatedly with some heavy instrument; to beat.

With cruel blows she pounds her blubbered cheeks.