Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1600-1700
Origin: pounce 'claw' (15-19 centuries), probably from puncheon 'pointed weapon' (14-20 centuries), from Old French poinchon

pounce

 verb
     
pounce [intransitive]
to suddenly move forward and attack someone or something, after waiting to attack them:
The cat was hiding in the bushes, ready to pounce.
pounce on
Kevin pounced on Liam and started hitting him.
—pounce noun [countable]

pounce on somebody/something

phrasal verb
1 to criticize someone's mistakes or ideas very quickly and eagerly:
Teachers are quick to pounce on students' grammatical errors.
2 to eagerly take an opportunity as soon as it becomes available:
When they offered O'Leary the chance to become manager, he pounced on it.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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