Also 6 bowns, bounse, 6–7 bownce. [The stem of the vb. or sb. interjectionally: cf. the corresponding use of Ger. bums, bumps, as in bums geht die Thür (Grimm).]
A. int. a. Imitating the sound of a gun. b. Expressing sudden, violent movement.
1523. Skelton, Garl. Laurel, 624. With that I herd gunnis russhe out at ones, Bowns, Bowns, Bowns! that all they out cryde.
1590. Pasquil’s Apol., I. D ij b. Bounse, thers a gunne gone off, doe not the Bishops quake at thys?
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., III. ii. 303. Bownce would hee say, and away againe would hee goe.
1608. Armin, Nest Ninn. (1880), 59. Bownce is the worlds motto there, till they discharge the braine of all good abearing.
1852. Hood, Lamia, iii. 44. At every step—Bounce! when I only thought to stride a pace, I bounded thirty.
B. adv. With a BOUNCE (senses 1, 2, 3).
1604. Dekker, Honest Wh., Wks. 1873, II. 82. The Turkes gallies are fighting with my ships, Bownce goes the guns.
1750. Gray, Lett., in Poems (1775), 216. The Heroines … bounce into the parlour enter’d.
1789. Wolcott (P. Pindar), Expost. Ode, xii. Wks. 1812, II. 242. Bounce on my dear os frontis falls the lead.
1847. Barham, Ingol. Leg. (1877), 95. Bounce went the door, In came half a score Of the passengers, sailors, and one or two more.
1864. Miss Yonge, New Ground, xv. Something came bounce against the door.
