"vigorous, big, strong," 1570s, present-participle adjective from bounce (v.).
Entries linking to bouncing
bounce v.
early 13c., bounsen "to thump, hit," a word 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." The meaning "to bound like a ball" is from 1510s; the transitive sense of "cause to rebound" is from 1876. Of a check, "be returned for insufficient funds," from 1927. Related: Bounced; bouncing.
strapping adj.
"tall and sturdy, robust," originally applied to women, 1650s, from present participle of strap (v.), apparently in the sense of "to beat with a strap." Compare similar senses of whopping, spanking, bouncing and other present-participle adjectives of violent action expressing something large in size.