ponce

Forms

ponce f (plural ponces)^[1] Anglo-Norman punce.^[2]

Etymology

It is inherited from Late Latin pomicem, the accusative of the Late Latin gloss word pomex, a variant of Latin pūmex (“pumice”).^[3][4][5][6] The vowel ⟨o⟩ is taken to be a dialect form, probably Oscan, where an old ⟨oi⟩ was kept: the Oscans lived in the volcanic region where the stone was gathered.^[3][4][5] Rey adds that the Latin word may be a native word like sulpur, later linked with spūma (“foam”), or a relative of that word without the initial ⟨s⟩.^[4]

Cognate with Italian pomice;^[7][8] Meyer-Lübke derives Spanish pómez and Portuguese pomes from the French word.^[7][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found about 1245, in Huon de Cambrai's Regrets Notre Dame, as the name of the light volcanic stone, pumice.^[3][9]

Semantic evolution

The word is mostly used in pierre ponce, recorded in R. Estienne's dictionary of 1538;^[3][4] pierre de ponce was used from 1694 to 1759 and then went out of use.^[3][4] Two technical senses grew from it: a small cloth bag of coloured powder dabbed over a pricked drawing to copy it (1621), named because its rubbing was likened to that of the stone,^[3][8] and, in the textile trade, a greasy ink of oil and lampblack for marking the ends of pieces of cloth (1723).^[4][3]

The verb poncer (before 1250) first meant “to remove hair” before the general sense “to polish with pumice”; from it comes poncif (1551), first a pricked drawing and, in the language of the fine arts from 1828, a trite piece of work.^[4][5] The derivative poncette is found even earlier than the base, as puncete “pumice” in Philippe de Thaon's Lapidaire (first half of the 12th century).^[3]

Timeline

• c. 1245 – Ponce appears in Huon de Cambrai.^[3]
• Before 1250 – The verb poncer is recorded.^[4]
• 1538 – R. Estienne records pierre ponce.^[3][9]
• 1551 – The derivative poncif appears.^[5]
• 1621 – E. Binet uses it for the pouncing bag.^[3]
• 1723 – Savary records the textile ink.^[3][9]

Meanings

Noun

1. pumice, a light, very porous volcanic rock, usually pierre ponce, used for polishing and cleaning.^[10][11][12]
2. (technical) A pounce bag: a cloth bag of coloured powder dabbed over a pricked drawing (a poncif) to copy it.^[10][11]
3. (technical) A greasy ink used for pouncing and for marking cloth.^[10][9]
4. Béton ponce: light concrete made with pumice as aggregate.^[12]

Word family

• poncer
• poncette
• ponceux

Related words

• poncif
• Latin pūmex

Usage notes

In Quebec French ponce is also a hot drink made with gin or rum.^[1] The Wiktionnaire treats it as a variant of punch, and the FEW lists it under English punch, not under pumex.^[13][14]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
4. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 9, 573a
7. ^ a b Meyer-Lübke, Wilhelm (1935), Romanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., Heidelberg: Winter
8. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
10. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
11. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
12. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
13. ^ Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org
14. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 18, 99b