Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#120311 01/17/04 04:31 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
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.




#120312 01/19/04 11:50 AM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Oh-ho! This is a rare word for the de-fence-less.


#120313 01/19/04 01:36 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
and of course, there's the Tierce-de-Picardie...



formerly known as etaoin...
#120314 01/19/04 01:45 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Tierce de picardie
(Fr.) The surprising sound of a major third at the end of a piece otherwise in a minor key thus converting the expected minor chord to a major one. This was a common device up to the mid-18th century


#120315 01/19/04 02:39 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
It is still commonly used in the church where I play each Sunday--I love throwing in that unexpected major chord at the conclusion of hymns with minor tonality. Just never knew it was a tierce de picardie! Thanks, et' and Bill. This is a lovely place to visit, you know? I usually leave it in a kind of tierce de picardie turnabout of mood for the better!


#120316 01/19/04 03:19 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
tierce de picardie turnabout

perhaps a tiercetrope? tropetierce? trope de Picardie?



formerly known as etaoin...
#120317 01/19/04 03:27 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Well, I suppose when one goes traipsing about in Wordland it's much better to trip about troping those Tierces de Picardie in that you leave with something you hadn't gone in with...

And that's certainly much better than going down those stairs and remembering something you'd forgotten!

[Yes, Michael, I've forgotten both the French and the German.]



Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,369
Members9,182
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
1 members (A C Bowden), 874 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,561
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,919
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5