pound3

 
Pronunciation: /paʊnd/

noun

  • a place where stray animals, especially dogs, may be officially taken and kept until claimed by their owners.
  • a place where illegally parked motor vehicles removed by the police are kept until their owners pay a fine in order to reclaim them.
  • archaic a place of confinement; a trap or prison.

verb

[with object] archaic
  • shut (an animal) in a pound.

Origin:

late Middle English (earlier in compounds): of uncertain origin. Early use referred to an enclosure for the detention of stray or trespassing cattle