In David Copperfield, I encountered the word "pounce" as something in a lawyer's office. My search for it turned up an ancient encyclopedia that I found fun to browse. I hope other members may also find it fun to browse.
http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/A81.HTMIncidentally, the word "pounce" refers to the sand that used to be spread on papers with handwriting in ink, to
speed the drying of the ink.
Webster's 1913 Dictionary
Definition: \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.
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