Pounce, powns, n. a fine powder for preparing a surface for writing on: coloured powder sprinkled over holes pricked in paper to form a pattern on paper underneath.—v.t. to sprinkle with pounce, as paper or a pattern.—ns. Pounce′-box, Poun′cet-box, a box with a perforated lid for sprinkling pounce. [Fr. ponce, pumice—L. pumex, pumicis, pumice-stone.]
Pound, pownd, n. long the unit of weight in the western and central states of Europe, differing, however, in value in all of them—a weight of 16 oz. avoirdupois for general goods, the troy-pound of 12 oz. being for bullion (the troy lb. is defined as 5760 grains, of which the lb. avoirdupois contains 7000): the pound sterling, a money of account: a sovereign or 20s., also represented in Scotland by a note (the Pound Scots is 1⁄12th of the pound sterling, or 1s. 8d.—of its twenty shillings each is worth an English penny): (Spens.) a balance.—v.t. (slang) to wager a pound on.—ns. Pound′age, a charge or tax made on each pound; Pound′al, a name sometimes used for the absolute foot pound second unit of force, which will produce in one pound a velocity of one foot per second, after acting for one second; Pound′-cake, a sweet cake whose ingredients are measured by weight; Pound′er, he who has, or that which weighs, many pounds—used only after a number, as a 12-pounder.—adj. Pound′-fool′ish, neglecting the care of large sums in attending to little ones. [A.S. pund—L. pondo, by weight, pondus, a weight—pendĕre, to weigh.]
Pound, pownd, v.t. to shut up or confine, as strayed animals.—n. an enclosure in which strayed animals are confined: a level part of a canal between two locks: a pound-net.—ns. Pound′age, a charge made for pounding stray cattle; Pound′-keep′er; Pound′-net, a kind of weir in fishing, forming a trap by an arrangement of nets (the wings, leader, and pocket, bowl, or pound). [A.S. pund, enclosure.]
Pound, pownd, v.t. to beat into fine pieces: to bruise: to bray with a pestle.—v.i. to walk with heavy steps.—n. Pound′er. [M. E. pounen—A.S. punian, to beat; -d excrescent.]
Pour, pōr, v.t. to cause to flow or fall in streams or drops: to throw with force: to send forth in great quantity: to give vent to: to utter.—v.i. to flow: to issue forth: to rush.—n. Pour′er. [Celt., as W. bwrw, to throw, Gael. purr, to push.]
Pourboire, pōōr-bwor′, n. drink-money: a bribe. [Fr. pour, for, boire, to drink.]
Pourparler, pōōr-pär′lā, n. a conference to arrange for some important transaction, as the formation of a treaty. [Fr. pour=L. pro, before, parler, to speak.]
Pourpoint, pōōr′point, n. a close-fitting men's quilted garment worn in the 14th century.
Pourtrahed, pōōr-trād′, adj. (Spens.) portrayed or drawn.
Pourtray. Same as Portray.