Ponce
UK: pɒns | US: pɑːns
n. 1. (British slang) A man who lives off the earnings of a prostitute; a pimp.
n. 2. (Derogatory) A vain or effeminate man.
v. (British slang) To act as a pimp; to exploit others for personal gain.
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The word "ponce" originated in late 19th-century British slang, likely derived from the French word "pansu" (meaning "pot-bellied" or "pampered"), though its exact path is unclear. It evolved to describe a man who profits from sex work, later extending to derogatory use for effeminate or pretentious men. The term reflects societal attitudes toward gender and exploitation.
The gang leader was known to ponce off vulnerable women in the neighborhood.
He dressed so flamboyantly that his coworkers mockingly called him a ponce.
The film portrayed the antagonist as a ruthless ponce controlling the red-light district.
Stop poncing around and get a proper job!
Victorian literature often depicted ponces as parasitic figures in urban underworlds.