ponce

ponce · noun, verb¹

1. French · derived fromalphonse“kept man”
2. English todayponce

Uncertain, but probably an aphetic form of French alphonse (“kept man”), from the male given name Alphonse. Also sometimes connected to pounce or French pensionnaire (“pensioner, person living without working”).

ponce · noun²

1. French · borrowed frompanse
2. French · borrowed frompanse
3. English todayponce

Borrowed from French panse (“belly”).

Ponce · proper noun³

1. Spanish · borrowed fromPonce
2. Spanish · borrowed fromPonce
3. English todayPonce

Borrowed from Spanish Ponce.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• 1859 Synonym of kept man.
• 1872 Synonym of pimp, especially one hired by a prostitute as a tout, bodyguard, and driver.
• 1932 Synonym of poof: an effeminate gay man; any similarly effeminate man.