Abstain: A neutral response by a member of a jury when questioned about a touch

Advance: front foot followed by the back in a forward movement

Attack: Initial offensive action executed by an extension of a weapon

Balestra: (Italian) meaning a forward hop or jump

Bib: lower part of the fencing mask

Barrage: bout between two or more opponents who are tied to determine the winner

Beat: attempt to knock the opponent's blade aside or out of line

Bind: action in which the opponent's blade is forced into the diagonally opposite line.

Black Card: used to indicate the most serious offence in competition. The fencer is usually expelled from the event or tournament completely

Body cord: electrical wiring attached to the blade(s) and connected to the reel 

Bout: an assault at which the score is kept

Button: depressed on the tip of the blade to initiate the scoring signal

Circle step left: left foot followed by right foot movement clockwise around the circle strip ending in en guarde position with the left foot in front

Circle step right: right foot followed by left foot movement counter clockwise around the circle strip ending in en guarde position with the right foot in front

Circle strip: 20ft diameter grounded circle used for dagger fencing

Competition: a group of bouts that fencers participate in  

Compound: attack or riposte incorporating one or more feints to the opposite line where the action is completed

Corps-a-corps: (French): "body-to-body", physical contact between two fencers during a bout

Counter-attack: attack made against the right-of-way, or in response to the opponent's attack.

Counter-disengage: disengage in the opposite direction, to deceive the counter-parry.

Counter-parry: parry made in the opposite line to the attack, to the opposite side of the opponent's blade.

Counter-time: attack that responds to the opponent's counter- attack, typically a riposte following the parry of the counter-attack.

Cross Parry: binding either or both of the opponents weapons with the epee and dagger blades in a cross.  

Dagger: a fencing weapon with a short blade and a saber guard to protect the entire hand

Deceive: avoidance of opponents attempt to seize the blade

D.F.C. a comittee comprised of epee and dagger fencers, referees, coaches and judges to set forth the rules and regulations of the sport

Disarm: to deprive a fencer of the weapon

Disengage: a movement of the blade that deceives the opponent's blade action or changes the line of engagement

Double touch: simultaneous touch(s) from both opponents

Dry: fencing without electric scoring aids

Duel: a bout consisting of 3 rounds with a 1 minute break between each round

Engagement: when blades contact each other

En guarde: (French) the stance a fencer assumes when preparing to fence.

Epee: a fencing weapon with triangular cross-section blade and a large bell guard; also a light dueling sword of similar design, popular in the mid-19th century.

Event: a gathering of fencers that compete in one or several competitions

Expulsion: excessive pressure executed by sliding forward on the forte of the opponent’s blade

Feint: an attack to the opposite line.

FIE: Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (French) governing body of global fencing regulations

Fleche: (French) forward movement of body with trailing leg crossing the plane of the front foot

Flick: a cut-like action that lands with the point, often involving some whip of the foible of the blade to "throw" the point around a block or other obstruction.

Florentine: a secondary weapon is used in the opposite hand of the main fighting weapon

Foible: upper third of the blade   

Footwork: controlled movement of legs and feet during fencing

Forte: bottom third of blade close to bell guard

French Grip: a traditional hilt with a slightly curved grip and a large pommel.

Froissement: an attack that displaces the opponent's blade by a strong grazing action.

Guard: bell shaped metal to protect the hand during fencing

Hilt: handle section of a weapon

Intention: tactic to draw a response (second) or intent to score (first) against the opponent

Judge: Officials who assist the referee during a bout

Jury: Officials who ensure all rules and regulations are observed

Line: Area of target defined by position of each weapon

Lunge: attack made by extending the rear leg and landing on the bent front leg

Maestro: (Italian) a certified teacher or mentor of fencing

Main Gauche: (French) name for Dagger weapon

Maraging: steel manipulated to be stronger and break more cleanly than conventional blades

Mask: wire mesh helmet required for fencing

Match: the aggregate of bouts between two fencing teams.

Measure: the distance between the fencers.

Middle: the middle third of the blade, between foible and forte.

Opposition: holding the opponent's blade in a non-threatening line 

Pass:  attack made with intention to move past the opponent with blade work of either hand

Piste: a square (6.5 meters x 6.5 meters) area used for wireless dagger fencing  

Pistol Grip: a modern, orthopedic grip, shaped vaguely like a small pistol; varieties are known by names such as Belgian, German, Russian, and Visconti

Plastron: a partial jacket worn for extra protection; typically a half- jacket worn under the main jacket on the weapon-arm side of the body

Pommel: a fastener that attaches the grip to the blade.

Preparation: movement of blade preceding an action

Pronation: position of the hand with palm facing down

Quillon: A Protrusion of the guard to break or capture the opponents blade, illegal in Olympic style dagger fencing

Red Card: used to indicate a major rule infraction resulting in a point being given to the opponent

Referee: mediator of the fencing bout.

Remise: immediate replacement of an attack that missed or was parried, without withdrawing the arm.

Reprise: renewal of an attack that missed or was parried, after a return to en-garde

Retreat: step back; opposite of advance.

Riposte: an attack made immediately after a parry of the opponent's attack.

Round: the activity of dagger fencing lasting 5 minutes

Salle D’Armes: (French) fencing hall or club

Salute: customary acknowledgement to opponent and referee 

Second Intention: a false action used to draw a response from the opponent, which will open the opportunity for the intended action that follows, typically a counter-riposte.

Simple: an attack (or riposte) that involves no feints.

Simultaneous: two attacks that result in points awarded to each fencer

Strip: term used for dagger fencing with a standard: 14 meters long by 1.5 to 2 meters wide area for combat

Sudden Death: fencing until a tie score is broken with no time limit

Supination: position of the hand with palm facing up

Tang: portion of blade that holds the guard, grip and pommel

Touch: point scored in a bout

Thrust: an attack made by moving the sword parallel to its length and landing with the point

Traverse step forward left: footwork movement in an angular direction starting with the left foot moving towards the left inside the circle strip

Traverse step forward right: footwork movement in an angular direction starting with the right foot moving towards the right inside the circle strip

Traverse step back left: footwork movement in an angular direction starting with the right foot moving backward towards the left inside the circle strip

Traverse step back right: footwork movement in an angular direction starting with the left foot moving backward towards the right inside the circle strip

Vest Protective: Plastic or heavy material used to protect the upper body

Weapon: fencing instrument

Yellow Card: warning; used to indicate a minor rule infraction by one of the fencers