# pounce

> English word · Noun · IPA /paʊns/ · frequency rank #30,185

## Definitions
1. 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.
2. Charcoal dust, or some other coloured powder for making patterns through perforated designs, used by embroiderers, lacemakers, etc.

## Etymology
From French ponce, from Latin pūmex. Doublet of pumice.

## Easily confused with
- **Pune** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pounce-vs-pune)
- **pound** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pounce-vs-pound)
- **punch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pounce-vs-punch)
- **prune** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pounce-vs-prune)
- **prince** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pounce-vs-prince)
- **pounds** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pounce-vs-pounds)
- **pounder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pounce-vs-pounder)
- **pounced** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pounce-vs-pounced)
- **pence** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pence-vs-pounce)
- **pouch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pouch-vs-pounce)
- **ponce** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponce-vs-pounce)
- **Ponte** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ponte-vs-pounce)
- **police** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/police-vs-pounce)
- **plunge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plunge-vs-pounce)
- **pointe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pointe-vs-pounce)

## Common misspellings (8)
`opunce`, `ponuce`, `poucne`, `pouncce`, `pounec`, `pounnce`, `ppounce`, `puonce`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/pounce