pound

I. noun (plural pounds; also pound) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English pund, from Latin pondo pound, from ablative of pondus weight — more at pendant Date: before 12th century 1. any of various units of mass and weight; specifically a unit now in general use among English-speaking peoples equal to 16 avoirdupois ounces or 7000 grains or 0.4536 kilogram — see weight table 2. a. the basic monetary unit of the United Kingdom — called also pound sterling b. any of numerous basic monetary units of other countries — see money table c. the basic monetary unit of Ireland from 1921 to 2001 d. lira II II. noun Etymology: Middle English, enclosure, from Old English pund- Date: 14th century 1. a. an enclosure for animals; especially a public enclosure for stray or unlicensed animals <

a dog pound

> b. a depot for holding impounded personal property until redeemed by the owner <

a car pound

> 2. a place or condition of confinement 3. an enclosure within which fish are kept or caught; especially the inner compartment of a fish trap or pound net III. verb Etymology: alteration of Middle English pounen, from Old English pūnian Date: 1594 transitive verb 1. to reduce to powder or pulp by beating 2. a. to strike heavily or repeatedly b. to produce with or as if with repeated vigorous strokes — usually used with out <

pound out a story on the typewriter

> c. to inculcate by insistent repetition ; drive <

day after day the facts were pounded home to them — Ivy B. Priest

> d. to move, throw, or carry forcefully and aggressively <

pound the ball down the field

> 3. to move along heavily or persistently <

pounded the pavement looking for work

> 4. to drink or consume rapidly ; slug <

pound down some beers

> intransitive verb 1. to strike heavy repeated blows 2. pulsate, throb <

my heart was pounding

> 3. a. to move with or make a heavy repetitive sound b. to work hard and continuously — usually used with away IV. noun Date: 1876 an act or sound of pounding