45 fencing terms explained, from en garde, parry and riposte to fleche, remise and right of way, each with a one-line meaning.
Fencing terminology is mostly French, and it stays French even in an English-speaking club, which is why the words related to fencing sound foreign long before they sound technical. The words associated with fencing fall into commands, blade actions and equipment, and once you can place a term in one of those three groups it stops being mysterious. The fencing glossary below collects every fencing word used on this page.
Must-Know Fencing Terms, Phrases and Slang:
- Advance
- Bout
- Cross
- Disengage
- En garde
- Fleche
- Foil
- Guard
- Hit
- Lunge
- Parry
- Riposte
- Sabre
- Thrust
- Touché
- Epee
- Feint
- Point in line
- Reprise
- Right of way
- Piste
- Counter-attack
- Red card
- Yellow card
- Black card
- Corps-a-corps
- Halt
- Priority
- Engagement
- Off-target
Fencing Glossary: Every Term A to Z
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Advance | A step forward toward the opponent. The most basic piece of fencing footwork. |
| Allez | The referee's command to begin. It follows En garde and Pret, and it is the word that actually starts the action. |
| Balestra | A short jump forward, usually launched straight into a lunge. |
| Beat | A sharp tap on the opponent's blade to knock it aside or to provoke a reaction. |
| Black card | The heaviest penalty in fencing, given for the most serious offenses. It means expulsion from the competition. |
| Body cord | The wire running under the jacket from the weapon to the scoring box. A broken one stops the bout. |
| Bout | A single match between two fencers, fenced to 5 hits in pools and 15 in the elimination rounds. |
| Corps-a-corps | Body to body contact between fencers. Deliberate contact to avoid a hit is penalized. |
| Counter-attack | A hit made into the opponent's attack rather than after it. Risky in foil and sabre, common in epee. |
| Cross | A step in which one leg crosses over the other, covering ground quickly at the cost of balance. |
| Direct elimination | The knockout stage that follows the pools, fenced to 15 hits in three periods. |
| Disengage | Moving the blade around the opponent's parry to keep the attack alive. |
| En garde | The ready position fencers take before the bout starts and after every halt. Also the referee's first command. |
| Engagement | Contact between the two blades, used to feel out the opponent and take control of the line. |
| Epee | The heaviest of the three weapons. The whole body is target, hits count only with the point, and there is no right of way. |
| Feint | A movement that pretends to attack one line in order to draw a reaction and open another. |
| Fleche | A running attack in which the fencer sprints past the opponent after extending the arm. |
| Foil | The light thrusting weapon whose target is the torso, fenced with right of way. |
| Guard | Both the defensive position and the metal bell on the weapon that protects the hand. |
| Halt | The referee's command to stop. Fencers must freeze until Allez is called again. |
| Hit | A touch landed with the valid part of the weapon on the valid target area. It scores a point. |
| Lame | The metallic overjacket worn in foil and sabre. It registers hits on valid target electrically. |
| Lunge | The standard attack: the front leg drives out, the rear leg straightens, the arm leads with the point. |
| Mask | The mesh helmet that protects the head and neck. In foil and sabre it is wired into the scoring system. |
| Measure | The distance between the two fencers. Controlling measure is most of what a bout is about. |
| Off-target | In foil, a hit that lands outside the valid torso area. Nothing is scored and the action stops. |
| Parry | A block that deflects an incoming blade away from the target, usually followed by a riposte. |
| Piste | The strip the bout is fenced on, 14 metres long and 1.5 to 2 metres wide. Stepping off the back costs a hit. |
| Plastron | The padded underarm protector worn beneath the jacket on the weapon side. |
| Point in line | An arm fully extended with the point threatening valid target. It establishes right of way until the opponent removes the blade. |
| Poule | The opening round-robin pool, where each fencer meets every other fencer in the group over five hits. |
| Priority | Another name for right of way, the rule that decides who scores when both fencers hit. |
| Red card | A penalty for a serious infraction that awards a hit to the opponent. |
| Remise | An immediate renewal of an attack in the same line, without withdrawing the arm. |
| Reprise | A renewed attack after the first one fell short, usually by lunging or advancing again. |
| Retreat | A step backward, the counterpart to the advance. |
| Right of way | The rule in foil and sabre that awards the point to whoever attacked correctly when both fencers land. |
| Riposte | The counterattack made straight after a successful parry, while the opponent is still recovering. |
| Sabre | The cutting weapon. Hits count with the edge as well as the point, and the target is everything above the waist. |
| Salute | The brief raising of the blade to the opponent and the referee before and after a bout. Skipping it is a penalty. |
| Simultaneous | Both fencers hit at the same moment. In epee both score, in foil and sabre right of way decides who does. |
| Strip | The English name for the piste. |
| Thrust | A straight attack driven forward with the point toward the target. |
| Touche | The acknowledgement of a hit against yourself. From the French for touched. |
| Yellow card | A warning for a minor infraction. It carries no immediate penalty, but the next offense becomes a red card. |
#1 Advance
A fundamental footwork technique where a fencer takes a step forward towards their opponent. It’s used to close distance and is often the setup for more complex attacks or combinations.
#2 Bout
The term for an individual match in fencing, which consists of two fencers competing to score a set number of hits. A standard bout might go to 5 or 15 points, depending on the competition’s format.
#3 Cross
In fencing, a “cross” refers to a type of footwork where a fencer crosses one leg over the other while moving forward or backward. This movement can be used to close or increase distance quickly but comes with a risk of losing balance.
#4 Disengage
A maneuver designed to avoid an opponent’s attempt to parry by moving the weapon around the parry. It’s a deceptive move that can maintain offensive pressure and create openings for an attack.
#5 En grade
The ready stance that fencers adopt before beginning a bout or after a halt, where they face each other with weapons in hand. It signifies that both competitors are prepared to engage in combat.
#6 Fleche
An aggressive, leaping attack where a fencer sprints towards the opponent and extends their sword arm fully, attempting to land a hit and then passing by. It is dramatic and can cover a lot of ground quickly.
#7 Foil
A type of lightweight sword with a flexible rectangular blade used in one of the three forms of Olympic fencing. Foil fencers score by hitting the torso with the tip of the blade, adhering to right-of-way rules.
#8 Guard
The guard is both a position and a part of the fencing weapon. As a position, it refers to the defensive posture a fencer assumes to protect themselves and prepare for attacks. As a part of the weapon, the guard is the protective hilt that shields the hand from hits.
#9 Hit
In fencing, a hit refers to the action of successfully striking an opponent with the tip or edge of the weapon in a valid target area. It is essential for scoring points and determines the outcome of a bout.
#10 Lunge
A fundamental attacking movement where a fencer thrusts forward toward their opponent, extending their front leg and leading with their weapon. It’s a quick and direct way to attempt a hit while maintaining balance and control.
#11 Parry
A defensive technique where a fencer blocks or deflects an opponent’s attack, using their weapon to redirect the attacking blade away. Parries can be classified by their direction and are often followed by a riposte.
#12 Riposte
A riposte is an offensive action made immediately after a successful parry. It capitalizes on the opportunity created when an opponent’s attack has been blocked, allowing the fencer to launch a counterattack.
#13 Sabre
One of the three weapons used in fencing, characterized by a light, flat blade and a guard that covers the knuckles. Unlike foil and epee, sabre allows for scoring with both the point and the edge of the blade.
#14 Thrust
A straightforward attack where the fencer extends their arm and weapon towards the opponent’s target area. A thrust aims to score with the point of the weapon and is common in foil and epee fencing.
#15 Touché
In fencing, “touché” acknowledges a successful hit by an opponent on the valid target area, showing respect for their skill. Originating from the French word for “touched,” it signals a scored point and reflects the sportsmanship of the sport.
#16 Epee
The epee is one of the three weapons used in the sport of fencing, characterized by its stiffer, heavier blade and a large guard. The entire body is a valid target in epee fencing, and points are scored solely through hits with the tip of the blade, not the sides.
#17 Feint
A deceptive movement or thrust intended to provoke a reaction from an opponent, feinting can create an opening to score. It’s a strategy used to mislead the opponent about the intended attack line.
#18 Point in line
“Point in line” refers to a position where a fencer’s arm is fully extended with the point threatening the opponent’s target area, establishing right of way. This defensive action requires the opponent to remove the threat before launching their attack.
#19 Reprise
A reprise is an additional action taken after an initial attack misses or is parried, without withdrawing the arm, often involving a renewal of the lunge or advance. It’s a way to maintain pressure and attempt another hit.
#20 Right of way
A rule in foil and sabre determining which fencer receives the point in the case of simultaneous hits. The fencer who initiates the attack correctly has the right of way unless parried or outmaneuvered.
#21 Piste
The piste is the playing area for a fencing bout, traditionally 14 meters long and between 1.5 and 2 meters wide. Its boundaries affect tactics, as stepping off can lead to penalties.
#22 Counter-attack
A counter-attack in fencing is a tactical move where a fencer strikes their opponent while they are launching an attack. It’s risky but can score by hitting before or during the opponent’s offensive action.
#23 Red card
In fencing, a red card is a penalty given for serious rule violations, such as refusing to obey the referee’s orders or deliberate brutality. Receiving a red card results in a point awarded to the opponent.
#24 Yellow card
A warning issued to fencers for minor rule infractions, like starting before “Allez” is called or causing a delay in the bout. A yellow card by itself carries no immediate penalty, but a second leads to a red card.
#25 Black card
The black card represents the most severe penalty in fencing, given for extremely serious offenses, including violent conduct or cheating. It leads to immediate expulsion from the competition and further disciplinary action.
#26 Corps-a-corps
Literally meaning “body-to-body,” corps-a-corps refers to physical contact between fencers during a bout. While incidental contact may not be penalized, deliberate corps-a-corps to avoid a touch can result in a card.
#27 Halt
The command given by a fencing referee to stop the action, often due to a rule infraction, safety concern, or when a touch is scored. Fencers must immediately cease engaging until “Fence” is called to resume the bout.
#28 Priority
Priority or right of way is a rule in foil and sabre fencing that determines which fencer receives the point if both hit each other. It is awarded to the fencer who initiates the attack first or who responds correctly to an attack. The concept helps define the flow of the bout and encourages offensive action.
#29 Engagement
Engagement in fencing refers to the contact between the fencers’ blades. This is a tactical action used to feel out the opponent’s intentions, gain control over the opponent’s blade, and set up further offensive or defensive actions.
#30 Off-target
This term applies specifically to foil fencing. The foil has a designated valid target area (the torso, including the back but excluding the arms, head, and legs). If a hit lands outside this area, it is considered “off-target.” An off-target hit stops the action, but no point is scored, and the fencers reset and continue the bout.
FAQ
What is a fencing match called?
A bout. Bouts in the opening pools are fenced to five hits, and bouts in the direct elimination rounds go to fifteen. The pool itself is called a poule.
What do fencers say before they start?
The referee calls En garde, then Pret, then Allez, which is French for ready and go. Fencers themselves salute the opponent and the referee with the blade before the first command.
What is it called when you score a point in fencing?
A hit, or a touch. The fencer who has been hit acknowledges it by saying touche, which simply means touched in French.
What is the name of the narrow strip where a fencing bout takes place?
The piste, called the strip in English-speaking clubs. It is 14 metres long and between 1.5 and 2 metres wide, and stepping off the back end of it gives a hit to the opponent.
What is the French term for a quick return thrust after a block?
A riposte. It comes immediately after a successful parry, while the attacker is still extended, and the pair of actions together is usually called parry riposte.
What is the fencing mask called?
A mask. It is a mesh helmet with a bib protecting the throat, and in foil and sabre it is wired into the scoring system because it counts as valid target in sabre.
What are some words associated with fencing?
Weapons (foil, epee, sabre), footwork (advance, retreat, lunge, fleche), blade actions (parry, riposte, beat, disengage) and calls (En garde, Allez, Halt, Touche). The fencing glossary above lists them together with their meanings.
What are some Fencing terms for beginners?
“Advance,” “Lunge,” and “Parry” are some Fencing terms beginners should start with. These are fundamental actions used in footwork, attacking, and defensive maneuvers.
What are some funny Fencing terms?
“Fleche,” “Corps-a-corps,” and “Touché” are some funny Fencing terms that might tickle your funny bone, with their French origins adding a touch of whimsy to the sport’s vocabulary.
What is a famous Fencing phrase?
“En garde,” is a famous Fencing phrase, signaling the readiness to begin a bout, widely recognized as a universal call to action in the sport.
