Etymology
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bounce (v.)

early 13c., bounsen "to thump, hit," of uncertain origin, perhaps from Dutch bonzen "to beat, thump," or Low German bunsen, or imitative. The sense probably has been influenced by bound (v.). In 17c., "to talk big, bluster; bully, scold." Meaning "to bound like a ball" is from 1510s; transitive sense "cause to rebound" is from 1876. Of a check, "be returned for insufficient funds" is from 1927. Related: Bounced; bouncing.

bounce (n.)

1520s, "a heavy blow," also "a leap, a rebound" from bounce (v.). In reference to politicians and public opinion polls, by 1996, American English.

Entries linking to bounce

bouncing (adj.)
"vigorous, big, strong," 1570s, present-participle adjective from bounce (v.).
bouncer (n.)

1762, "one who bounces," agent noun from bounce (v.), which originally meant "to thump, hit." Given various specific senses in 19c., such as "boaster, bully, braggart" (1833); also "large example of its kind" (1842); "enforcer of order in a bar or saloon" (1865, American English, originally colloquial).

Now it so happened that the brakeman was what is known, in the language of the road, as a "bouncer." That is, he was a hybrid combining the qualities of a brakeman and a bruiser, and was frequently called into requisition by the conductor to take the dirty work of ejecting tramps off of his hands. ["Staats," "A Tight Squeeze," 1879]
"The Bouncer" is merely the English "chucker out". When liberty verges on license and gaiety on wanton delirium, the Bouncer selects the gayest of the gay, and — bounces him! [London Daily News, July 26, 1883]
bouncy (adj.)
1895, from bounce (n.) + -y (2).

updated on July 19, 2017

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Definitions of bounce from WordNet
1
bounce (v.)
spring back; spring away from an impact;
The rubber ball bounced
Synonyms: resile / take a hop / spring / bound / rebound / recoil / reverberate / ricochet
bounce (v.)
hit something so that it bounces;
bounce a ball
bounce (v.)
move up and down repeatedly;
Synonyms: jounce
bounce (v.)
come back after being refused;
the check bounced
bounce (v.)
leap suddenly;
He bounced to his feet
bounce (v.)
refuse to accept and send back;
bounce a check
bounce (v.)
eject from the premises;
The ex-boxer's job is to bounce people who want to enter this private club
2
bounce (n.)
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards;
Synonyms: leap / leaping / spring / saltation / bound
bounce (n.)
the quality of a substance that is able to rebound;
Synonyms: bounciness
bounce (n.)
rebounding from an impact (or series of impacts);
Synonyms: bouncing
From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near bounce

bouillabaisse

bouillon

boulder

boulevard

boulevardier

bounce

bouncer

bouncing

bouncy

bound

boundary

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper