Emily Dickinson Lexicon

POUCH'-MOUTH-ED, a.

Blubber-lipped. [Not used.] – Ainsworth.

POUL'-DA-VIS, n.

A sort of sail-cloth. [Not used.] – Ainsworth.

POULE, n. [See POOL.]

POULT, n. [Fr. poulet. See Poultry.]

A young chicken. [Little used.] – King.

POULT'ER-ER, n. [Norm. poltaire. See Poultry.]

1. One who makes it his business to sell fowls for the table.
2. Formerly, in England, an officer of the king's household, who had the charge of the poultry.

POUL'TICE, n. [It. polta, pap, L. puls, pultis, Gr. πολτος.]

A cataplasm; soft composition of meal, bran, or the like substance, to be applied to sores, inflamed parts of the body, &c. – Bacon.

POUL'TICE, v.t.

To cover with a cataplasm.

POUL'TIC-ED, pp.

Covered with a cataplasm or poultice.

POUL'TIC-ING, ppr.

Covering with a poultice.

POUL'TIVE, n. [for Poultice, is not used.]

– Temple.

POUL'TRY, n. [from Fr. poule, a hen, dim. poulet; It. pollo, a chicken; pollame, poultry; Sp. polla; L. pullus, a chicken, or other young animal; allied to Eng. foal; W. ebawl, eboles, a filly or colt; It. pollare, to sprout, L. pullulo.]

Domestic fowls which are propagated and fed for the table, such as cocks and hens, capons, turkies, ducks and geese.

POUL'TRY-YARD, n.

A yard or place where fowls are kept for the use of the table.

POUNCE, n.¹ [pouns; Fr. pierre-ponce, pumice-stone; poncer, to rub with pumice-stone; Arm. maen-puncz, pumice-stone.]

1. Sandarach pulverized, a fine powder used to prevent ink from spreading on paper.
2. Charcoal dust inclosed in some open stuff, as muslin, &c., to be passed over holes pricked in the work, to mark the lines or designs on a paper underneath. This kind of pounce is used by embroiderers to transfer their patterns upon their stuffs; also by lace-makers, and sometimes by engravers. It is also used in varnishing. – Cyc.
3. Cloth worked in eyelet-holes. – Todd.

POUNCE, n.² [This word seems to be connected with the It. punzome, a bodkin, a punch, a push, which is from the L. pungo, whence Sp. punzar.]

The claw or talon of a bird of prey.

POUNCE, v.i.

To fall on suddenly; to fall on and seize with the claws; as, a rapacious fowl pounces on a chicken.

POUNCE, v.t.

To sprinkle or rub with pounce.

POUNCE-BOX, or POUN'CET-BOX, n.

A small box with a perforated lid, used for sprinkling pounce on paper. – Shak.

POUN'CED, pp.

1. Furnished with claws or talons. – Thomson.
2. Sprinkled with pounce.

POUN'CING, ppr.

1. Furnishing with claws.
2. Falling suddenly on, and seizing with the claws.
3. Sprinkling with pounce.

POUND, n.¹ [Sax. pund; Goal. Sw. and Dan. pund; D. pond; G. pfund; L. pondo, pondus, weight, a pound; pendo, to weigh, to bend.]

1. A standard weight consisting of twelve ounces troy or sixteen ounces avoirdupois. The troy and the avoirdupois pound are not however the same.
2. A money of account consisting of twenty shillings, the value of which is different in different countries. The pound sterling is equivalent to $4 44.44 cts. money of the United States. In New England and Virginia, the pound is equal to $3 1/3; in New York to $2 1/2.

POUND, n.² [Sax. pyndan, pindan, to confine.]

An inclosure erected by authority, in which cattle or other beasts are confined when taken in trespassing, or going at large in violation of law; a pin-fold.

POUND, v.t.¹

To confine in a public ground.

POUND, v.t.² [Sax. punian; W. pwniaw, to beat and to load.]

1. To beat; to strike with some heavy instrument, and with repeated blows, so as to make an impression. With cruel blows she pounds her blubber'd cheeks. – Dryden.
2. To comminute and pulverize by beating; to bruise or break into fine parts by a heavy instrument; as, to pound spice or salt. Loud strokes with pounding spice the fabric rend. – Garth.

POUND'AGE, n. [from pound.]

1. A sum deducted from a pound, or a certain sum paid for each pound. – Swift.
2. In England, a subsidy of 12d. in the pound, granted to the crown on all goods exported or imported, and if by aliens, more. – Blackstone.

POUND'BREACH, n.

The breaking of a public pound for releasing beasts confined in it. – Blackstone.