Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
PUNCE, n., v. Also punse (Cld. 1880 Jam.). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. pounce.
I. n. 1. A light blow with the elbow, foot or the like, a jog, nudge, poke, thrust. Also in Eng. dial. Cf. Punch, n.2Ayr. 1838 Scotch Haggis (2nd Ser.) 215:
Will, coming forward to the Earl, gave him a punce on the shoulder.Kcb. 1899 Crockett Kit Kennedy xii.:
The command was punctuated by sundry admonitory “punces” in the ribs.Sc. 1909 N.E.D.:
He gave his bed-fellow a punce with his foot to waken him.
†2. An instrument formerly used for extracting the stumps of teeth.Sc. 1742 Medical Essays (R.S.M.) V. i. 461:
The Punce has much better Effect in pushing from within outwards than in the common Way it is employ'd to thrust the Roots of Teeth from without inwards.
II. v. 1. To poke or jog, gen. with the foot, elbow or the like (Rnf. 1837 Crawfurd MSS. XI. 322), “especially when lying in bed” (Sc. 1909 N.E.D.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); “to thrust the foot through the bed-sheets, to kick off (bed-clothes, etc.)” (Ib.). Also in Eng. dial.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 389:
To punse a brock in his lair, to push, or ratherly striking push, a badger in his den.Kcb. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 IV. 80:
Several men beat the surface of the water with long poles, and pounce the rocks and stones so as to scare the salmon from their haunts.
2. Of animals: to butt, “to push or strike with the head as cattle do when vicious” (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.).
[O.Sc. puns, a claw or talon, 1513, punss, a dagger, 1545, puns, to buffet, 1623, prob. cogn. with Fr. poinçon, an awl, Lat. pungere, to prick. Eng. pounce has developed its modern meanings from the sense of talon, and punch, to pummel, is another variant of the same orig.]
