O.Henry mentions a fencing position: "tierce":
"Half-adventurers--brave and splendid figures--have been numerous. >From the Crusades to the Palisades they have enriched the arts of history and fiction and the trade of historical fiction. But each of them had a prize to win, a goal to kick, an axe to grind, a race to run, a new thrust in tierce to deliver, a name to carve, a crow to pick--so they were not followers of true adventure."

From the Internet:
Ah, the parries or the POSITIONS.

(In the case of a right-handed fencer.)

1. Prime (1st, say 'prim' – old French) is when you draw your sword from the scabbard which you wear on your left side. Hand in pronation - palm down. Almost like kissing the back of your hand.

2. Seconde (2nd) is the one immediately to the right of Prime. Both Prime & Seconde are parries against low-line attacks. Hand still in pronation.

3. Tierce (3rd) drop your sword hand from Seconde and you'll have 3rd. The hand is still in pronation (palm down).

4. Quarte (4th) is left of Tierce protecting the chest. Hand in semi-pronation. Make sure you meet your opponent's blade with an edge no matter which weapon.