Terminology

Adduction: A movement to or toward the mid-line of the body.

Absence of Blade: A fencing phase in which the blades of the opponents are not touching.

Action on the Blade: Any movement in which a fencer effects a change in the opponent's blade by contacting it.

Advance: A forward stepping movement, toward one's opponent.

Appel (Call): Stamping forward foot.

Attack: Blade action, either compound or simple in nature, in which an attempt is made to hit the opponent's valid target area.

Balestra: A jump toward the opponent, usually followed by a lunge.

Beat: A sharp rap with the mid-section of one's blade on the foible or mid-section of the opponent's blade.

Bell Guard: That bell-shaped portion of the weapon between the blade and the handle which protects a fencer's hand.

Bind: An attack which, through continual contact of the opponent's blade, carries it from a high line to a low line or vice versa.

Blade: That portion of weapon from the button to the guard.

Bout: Competition between two fencers.

Breaking Ground: Retreating.

Button: The covering placed over the blunted tip of the blade.

Cadence: The rhythm in which a phase of movements is made.

Change of Engagement: The movement of the blade from one line of engagement into another.

Closing: Two fencers in combat so close that neither can effectively or safely use his weapon.

Closing a Line: Automatically closing the guard for a line when the opponent engages in that line.

Compound Attack: An offensive blade action of two or more movements with the first movement serving to open a line for attack.

Corps a Corps: Two fencers in a clinch- body to body.

Counter: Describing a circle around the opponent's blade.

Counter-parry: A circular parry.

Coupe (cut-over): A line of attack described by quickly passing one's foil over the opponent's foil.

Derobement: A simple offensive action executed with an extended arm which evades the opponent's attempt to beat or take the blade.

Development: A thrust followed by a lunge.

Direct: An attack, a parry, or a riposte taken in the line of engagement.

Director (President): The individual who presides over a jury during a bout.

Disarmament: A strong action which causes the opponent to lose his blade.

Disengage (cut-under): Leaving one line of engagement and moving into another by passing one's blade under opponent's blade.

Distance: The effective bouting space between two fencers in combat.

Double: A compound attacke which feints a disengage and deceives a counter-parry.

Double touch: Both fencers have been hit.

Engagement: The contact resulting when opposing blades cross.

Envelopment: An attack which contacts and carries the opponent's blade in a complete circle and lands in the line of its original engagement.

Epee: A thrusting weapon heavier than the foil which has for its target the entire body.

From: Curry, Nancy L. 1969. Fencing. Goodyear Publishing Company, Inc. Pacific Palisades, California.