פּוּץ (b. h.) to break through.
    Hif. - הֵפִיץ to break through, spread. Y. Snh. I, 19ᵇ sq. [read:] חד אמר … וחרנה אין עושין כל עיקר שמא יָפִיצוּ גוים ויבואו לארץ ישראל ואית דבעי מימר שמא יִפְרְצוּ אויבים ויבואו לידי קרחה one says (in the case of border towns condemned for idolatry, v. נָדַח), if there are two of them, we do not condemn them to be destroyed, if only one, we do; and another says, if there are several border towns near one another (of which one is to be condemned), we proceed (against the one, because the protection remains unimpaired), but if they are scattered, we do not; and a third one says, we must not destroy a border town under any circumstances, lest ravaging troops break forth and invade Palestine; but some would say (instead), lest a regular enemy invade and find an open country (v. Bab. Snh. 16ᵇ; Tosef. ib. XIV, 1).
    Pol. - פּוֹצֵץ to shatter, shiver, spread. Part. pass. מְפוֹצָץ; f. מְפוֹצֶצֶת. Lev. R. s. 27 עתידה בת קול להיות מפ׳ … ואומרת וכ׳ (not ואומר) in days to come a divine voice will be scattered in all directions (cmp. נִיצוֹץ) on the top of mountains and proclaim &c.
    Hithpol. - הִתְפּוֹצֵץ to be shattered. Kidd. 30ᵇ אם ברזל הוא מִתְפּוֹצֵץ if he (the tempter in man’s heart) is of iron, he will be shattered (by the study of God’s word, with ref. to Jer. XXIII, 29).