ponce

noun
noun

1: A man who lives off prostitutes' earnings; a pimp. (1859 —) .
G. Greer The role of the ponce...is too established for us to suppose that prostitutes have found a self-regulating lifestyle (1970).

2: A male homosexual; a lazy or effeminate man. Now often just a vague term of abuse. (1932 —) .
K. Amis As if I'd have said a word in front of that little ponce (1953). verb

3: intr. To act or behave like a ponce; also figuratively, to sponge (on) or take advantage (of); usu. to ponce on or off (someone). (1932 —) .
C. Macinnes Best of all...is poncing on some woman (1957).

4: to ponce about to act in an effeminate manner; to fool about. (1947 —) .

5: to ponce up to make effeminate, to 'tart' up. (1953 —) . Hence poncey, poncy, adjective Like a ponce, effete, homosexual. (1958 —) .
M. Amis You haven't half got poncy mates (1973).

[Perh. derived from to pounce or spring upon someone. This is at least supported by the spelling of an early related word in Mayhew's London Labour ((1861)): The 'pounceys', (the class I have alluded to as fancy-men, called 'pounceys' by my present informant). Webster's dictionary ((1961)) marks 'ponce' as Brit slang.]

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