Sword Geek: Smallsword Glossary 1784

SMALLSWORD
G  L  O  S  S  A  R  Y
OF THE
T E C H N I C A L    T E R M S

According to John McArthur

Edited by Tim Klotz

As Set Down in:
The The Army and Navy Gentleman’s Companion:
or, a New and Complete Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Fencing.
Displaying the Intricacies of Small-Sword Play:

And Reducing the Art to the Most Easy and Familiar Principals by Regular Progressive Lessons.
Illustrated by Mathamatical Figures, and Adorned with Elegant Engravings after Paintings from Life,
Executed in the most Masterly Manner.
Published London: J.Murray, 1784 edition.

www.youngblood.co.uk

Editor’s Notes:

Aside from a brief list of terms and definitions in the Pallas Armata(1639)
this is the earliest published historical fencing glossary I have seen. Please
make best use of it that you can.

This is a glossary created by one young master to accompany a
pragmatic treatise.  There are many other smallsword terms used
by many other fencing masters.  The Smallsword itself had over 150
years of practical and academic use.

McArthur himself says ‘There are several other technical
terms in the Art of Fencing which were formerly made use of; but by
modern practice they are now become obsolete.’ So this is one Master’s
glossary at a specific time, assembled for a specific purpose: ‘it would
therefore only tend to perplex the learner to introduce more terms into
the Glossary than such as are occasionally interspersed in this Treatise.‘

John McArthur originally published The Army and Navy Gentleman’s
Companion… in 1780, at the age of 24. That edition did not contain this
Glossary, the Interrogatory Recapitulation, or the list of Subscribers.  These
are drawn from the 1784 edition.

McArthur states in his text that he prefers (and was trained) in the style of
the Fencing of Master Oliver.  Oliver was another master of French
Smallsword in London, who’s accessible (and inexpensive) manual,
Fencing Familiarized, was published in 1771 and again in 1780. The
reader of these notes is welcome to perceive McArthur’s manual as the
upscale version the techniques from Oliver’s Fencing Familiarized.
Inversely, Harry Angelo published an economical quarto (1787) edition of
Angelo Sr.’s glorious Folio (1763,1765,1767) shortly after McArthur
brought Oliver’s teaching upmarket.

McArthur’s dismisses many distinctive and flamboyant characteristics of
Angelo’s style (such as thrusting in Tierce, the Fan Parade (Modern Parry 6)
and complex disarms).  McArthur also organises his manual in a progressive
series of lessons. These two points convey the root difference between the two:
Angelo knew his students as civilian gentlemen for whom fencing was in many
cases primarily a beneficial exercise, while McArthur believed that his subscribers,
mainly officers, were going to need a reliable and simple system of fencing
in actual combat.

The format of this document is as similar to that of the original as us possible.
Some variations have been made for the sake of clarity.  For instance, the
entire term or phrase has been capitalized.  Original pagination has also
been disregarded. I have updates some spellings to avoid confusion, but left most
of the document spelt as the original.

This is still in process so please make any suggestions or inform me of any errors.
There are a couple missing definitions such as ‘opposition’ and ‘Shell’ and ‘Grasp.’
Unfortunately these are not my omissions, but JM’s.

I’m also going to post a ‘clustered’ version of this glossary soon,  as well as the
SMALLSWORD  INTERROGATORY RECAPITULATION, which is like a Catechism or FAQ written
by John McArthur  himself in 1884.

Thanks for reading this far. Hope this helps you in your pursuit of your art!

Tim Klotz

G  L  O  S  S  A  R  Y

A.
ADVANCE- In Fencing, The act of stepping forward toward your adversay,
while on guard; the left foot instantly following the right so as that your
primative posture is still preserved.

APPEL- [From the French appel, a call]  Is applied to a sudden beat with
your right foot, by raising and letting it falll on the same spot, previous
to, or at the instant of, making a feint against an adversary; thereby
startling him and obaining some opening to deliver your intended thrust.

ASSAULT- Is where you engage an adversary with foils, as is single combat
with swords, using such efforts and academical rules, either offensive or
defensive, as your judgment may direct, for the purpose of succeeding in
the execution of your designs, or in baffling those of your adversary.

ASCENT- The act ot the wrist’s ascending inwards , on performing the
parades of carte, semicircle, and prime.  See references to the mathematical
figures.

ATTACK, SIMPLE- is the offensive attempts against your adversary, when
engaged in an assult, by simple moverments.

ATTACK, COMPOUND- The offensive attempts against an adversary, by
deceiving with feints, counter disengagements, glizades and repelling
every feint and thrust he may attempt against you.

B.
BEAT [in the French batre]- is particularly applied to the act of abruptly
striking, with the fort of your blade, the foible of your adversary’s, so as
to embarrass him and get openings to thrust.

BLADE- of a Sword or Foil is divided into three parts, viz. the fort, the
medium and the foible; or the shoulder or strength, the middle, and the
feeble; the shell is at one extremity, and the point is at the other.

BINDING THE SWORD- is the act of crossing your adversary’s blade with
pressing the fort of yours on the feeble of his, and by a sudden jerk of
the wrist securing or binding his blade, so as to be covered either from a
time thrust or an interchanged thrust.  It is generally persformed from
the guard or engagement of carte, when your adversary holds his wrist
low on guard.  A thrust thus delivered on the act of binding, is termed
the thrust of flanconnade. See Flanconnade.

C.
CARTE GUARD [in French quarte’]-  Anciently the fourth, is now one of
the principal guard-postures- The other is called Tierce Guard- The
greatest elevation of the point on guard should be nearly fifteen degrees;
if the polint is elevated more, it will make too great a cross in the
juncture of the blades.  The greater the cross of the blades, the more
easily are thrusts parried , as the curves formed by the point in parrying
will be greater; but it will at the same time impede the approach towards
the body- Hence the smaller the cross of the blades, when in contact or
guard, the more dextrous should the movements be, to render thrusts
effectual.

CARTE PARADE [In French quarte’]- Anciently the fourth, is now the first
of the upper parades.  It throws off all simple thrusts made inwards to
the upper part of the body.  It is performed from the medium guard, by
a gradual turn of the wrist ascending inwards- the point receding to its
original direction.  See mathematical illustration, plate 3, and references.

CARTE THRUST INSIDE- Is the natural thrust corresponding to the
parade of carte.  It is an upper thrust, and the oppostion to your
adversary’s blade is inwards, so as to be covered on the longe by seeing
the point over your arm.  See plate 10.

CARTE THRUST OVER THE ARM- Is the natural thrust corresponding
to the parade of tierce: it is the opposite thrust to carte inside; for the
opposition to your adversay’s blade is outwards- This thrust is a good
substitute for tierce thrust, it being rather aukward in execution, and as
such is seldom or never practiced.

CIRCLES- in general are compound movements with the point or blade in
pursuit of your adversary’s blade- All round parades form exact circles
with the point from right to left or vice versa.

CIRCLE PARADE- Is one of the lower round parades, derived from the
simple parade of semi-circle- It secures the lower part of the body
within; baffles the inward counter disengagements and feints- It is
frequently called doubling semicircle, as the point forms an exact circle
from that parade.  The course of the point is from right to left , drop’d
to an angle of forty-five degrees from guard point.

CAVEATING- is a dextrous motion of the wrist in shifting your blade from
one side of your adversary’s to the other.- It is a synonymous term to
disengaging, changing or shifting, and in this Treatise is more frequently
termed disengagement-  The nicety of the whole art partly consists in
the dextrous shifts or disengagements of the blade from one side to
another; as without it no feint can be executed. See Disengaging.

COUNTER DISENGAGEMENT [in French CONTRE
DEGAGEMENS]- Is a compound feint or movement performed
instantaneously after, and somtimes contrarily to a simple
disengagement.- This term is more particularly applied to the second
disengagement made after you find that an adversary forms a low parade
to your first.-  There are various kinds of counter disengagements; such
as the upper counter disengagements of carte and tierce, and the lower
counter disengagements of semi-circle, octave, prime and seconde.

COVERED or COVERING- Is the act of securing yourself from an
interchanged thrust from an adversary, at the time of longing, or
executing an intended thrust.-  When you justly oppose your adversay’s
blade in longing, and your arm does not deviate from the line of
direction, it is then termed a well-covered thrust or longe- Time thrusts
must not be attempted, unless you cover yourself minutely.  See
Opposition, and Time Thrust.

CUT OVER YOUR ADVERSARY’S POINT- is performed with a simple
movement of the wrist upwards, by which your point is raised nearly
perpendicular, and thereby disengaged from one side to the other,- The
arm is not to deviate from the line of direction.- The cuts over the point
answer the purposes of disengagements, when your adversary has his
point too much elevated on guard.

D.
DISENGAGING or DISENGAGEMENT- is the act of changing the blade
from one side of your adversary’s to the other- it is performed by a
dextrous motion of the wrist, without moving the arm- the smaller the
cross of the blades the quicker will the motion take place, of changing to
the opposite side, either within or without.  See Caveating.

DISTANCE- Is applied to the distance or space between two adversaries,
when they have joined blades for the assault- As measure is a more
general and comprehensive term.  See Measure.

DIRECTION, LINE OF- Is, in a general sense, the posture of the feet,
body and arms, kept invariably in a straight line on the proper side
position of guard.- For it is evident that the approaches towards your
adversary’s body will be more sure and speedy on straight lines than on
oblique ones.- It is sometimes applied to the direction of the arm and
point in parrying and thrusting-  If your form parades too wide, you
deviate from the line of direction, and threreby leave some part of your
body unguarded.-  If you thrust at your adversary, without covering
yourself by reshifting his blade, you also are said to deviate from the line
of direction-  Your point is also said to deviate from the line of
direction, when it is not steadily directed to your adversary’s body.

DISARMING- The act of depriving your adversary of his sword or foil.-
The ancients used various modes of disarming, by seizing an adversary’s
wrist in different situations; but these are now exploded.  The methods
now recommended are attended with no danger in serious affairs.

DESCENT- Is the act of the wrist’s desending outwards in performing the
parade of tierce, octave , and seconde.  See references to mathematical figures.

DOUBLING- Is generally applied in performing a round parade twice, when
your adversary doubles his feint upon you.

E.
ENGAGING, or ENGAGEMENT- Is to join, cross, or encounter your
adversay’s blade either inside or outside.  There are now only two modes
of engaing practised, the one called carte engagement, or the act of
joining your adversary’s blade inwards, while on the guard of carte- The
other termed tierce engagement, by crossing the blades while on the
outward guard of tierce- Hence the two guards are synonymous with the
two engagements.

EXTENSION, POSITION OF – The act of extending or stretching the left
leg, right and left Arms, and projecting the right knee forward, while
your point is drop’t and directed to the object-  It is performed from
guard position- a momentary elastic spring proceeding from the left
knee, while on guard position, should throw you into that of extension.
See Plate 5.- The projectile inclination of the body is nearly equal to the
inclination of your blade, when the point is directed to your adversary’s
breast.  It is so necessary a movement in fencing, preparatory to
longeing, that no thrusts can be well delivered without having previously
formed that position.  See Longe.

EXTENSION: THRUST OF  -  Is applied to the return after having parried
your adversary’s thrust in octave, by yielding forward on the extension at
the moment of parrying, and touching your adversary before he possibly
can recover.  This is parrying and thrusting at the same moment.  See
Plate 8.

F.
FEINT – Is a false attempt of making a thrust towards a particular part of
your adversary’s body, with a view to induce him to form a parade to
guard that part, that you may with greater facility execute your intended
thrust against the unguarded part.-  There are various kinds of feints and
they are divided into simple and compound, high and low.

FLANCONADE, is a particular thrust made towards your adversary’s flank,
by crossing and binding the feeble of his blade with your forte, and
dropping the point so as to form a good opposition in octave thrust.-
This thrust is seldom practised except on favourable occasions, when
your adversary holds his wrist low on guard.

FORTE of a blade, Is the first division of a blade of a sword or foil, and is
sometimes called the shoulder, or strength, as it comes from the shell to
the middle division.  See Sword, and Blade.

FOIBLE or FEEBLE- Is the weak part and third division of a blade, and is
that part at the farther extremity next the point. See Blade, and Sword.

FORCE is the act of advancing within measure, and delivering your thrust
forcibly, so as your adversary may not have sufficient power to throw it
off with a natural parade.- It is also applied to the act of leaning or
pressing hard upon your adversary’s blade at any time.

G.
GLIZADE [In French coule’, from the verb couler,to slip or glide along], Is the
act of gently sliping or gliding your blade along that of your adversary,
by a movement of the wrist, and a quick forward extension of the arm,
without deviating from the line of direction.- It is a simple and at the
same time a masterly movement in fencing.

GRACE- Is applied to the cover while you rest upon the longe, in exercising
the ornamental parades and thrusts of carte and tierce- After an
adversary has parried your thrust of carte inside, the foil should fly off
outwardly in an oblique direction, having only a slight hold of the grasp
between the thumb and first and second fingers, in a similar manner to
that of holding a pen; and the arm is not to deviate from the line of
direction while performing the grace.-  When your adversary has parried
with tierce, your thrust of carte over the arm, the foil of course flies off
obliquely inwards, whereby your adversary is seen through the angle
formed by your foil and arm- As the inward and outward oblique
inclination of the blade are equal, therefore the angles made by these
graces or covers are also equal to each other.
To perform the graces well, distinguishes a nice susceptibility of the
wrist to the resistance or opposition of your adversary’s parades; and
your adhering to a good line of direction, distinguishes the justness of
the longe and thrust.

GUARDS- particular postures, adapted either for defending yourself from
the attempts of an adversary, or from whence you may with facility
execute any offensive movements against him.- By modern practice,
only two guards are used in small sword play, viz. the guard of carte, and
the guard of tierce.  The one covers your body from a straight inside
thrust, by crossing the blades on that side, and the other covers you
from a straight outside thrust by opposing the blade outwards- Guards

are synonymous with engagements.

H.
HILT or HANDLE- of a sword or foil, Is that part into which the blade is
fixed ; and is divided into three parts, the Shell, the Grasp and Pummel.
See those articles severally.

I.
INCLINATION OF A BLADE-  Is the degrees that the blade may incline,
either one way or other, from a horizontal position.  It is more
particularly applied to the angles formed by the blade in the different
parades.

INTERCHANGED THRUST [ in French coup-fourre’] Is a thrust exchanged
between two adversaries at the same moment.  It frequently happens
that a skillful fencer is liable to receive an interchanged thrust from a
novice, by his delivering a thrust uncovered at the same moment in
place of forming a parade to oppose the skilful fencer’s thrust.
L.
LONGE [From the French verb alonger, to extend or stretch out] Is the act
of extending yourself on the line of direction the full distance of your
stride, in order to make your approaches to an adversary’s body in
delivering a thrust.  All thrusts are executed with the longe excepting a
few thrusts; such as thrusts of the wrist, and thrust of extension- All
longes are performed from guard position, by first forming the position
of extension;  (See Plate 5.); then instantaneously moving the right foot
forward on the same line, with the knee bent and perpendicular, while
your left foot remains firmly planted and the left leg and thigh are to be
extended along.- The extent of a longe is proportional to your stature.-
The extent in general is supposed to be about four feet, or equal to twice
the distance or measure of the two heels from each other, when on
guard posture.  A person of tall stature makes a more extensive longe
than one of a short stature; but he cannot recover with that degree of
ease and agility unless he is of a very active frame.

LOWER CARTE THRUST is one of the low thrusts naturally
corresponding to the parade of semi-circle; hence this thrust is by some
masters called semi-circle thrus.t- the oppositionion to your adversary’s
blade is inwards.

LOOSE-PLAY- synonymous with assault;- where you practice with foils all
the variations of small sword play, offensive or defensive.

M.
MEASURE- Is the distance or space between two adversaries, when they
have joined blades for an assult.- OUT OF MEASURE, is when you are
so far from your adversary that is not possible for the extent of your
longe to touch him; in that situation it is necessary to advance, in order
to gain your measure previous to longeing.

MEDIUM- Is the middle part between two extremes, and is applied to that
part of a blade between the extremes of the forte and the foible- It is
also applied to a position of the wrist on either guards, by keeping it in a
middle way and having two sides on guard to defend, in place of one
when completely covered.- Scholars on the plastroon are generally
exercised in a medium guard.
O.
OCTAVE PARADE-  is a lower parade and the opposite to semicircle.-
The point in its tract in performing the parades of semicircle and octave
alternately, forms the figure of eight; from thence derives its name.-
Octave is one of the most useful lower parades, being the most
favourable for making straight returned thrusts therefrom.  See plate 8. of
the attitude, and mathematical illustration, with references.

OCTAVE THRUST- is the natural thrust corresponding to the parade of
that name.  Some masters term it low tierce- It is a lower thrust, and
your adversary’s blade is opposed outwards.
P.
PARADE, PARRY or PARRYING, is the act of defending yourself against
a particular thrust of an adversary, by the turn of your wrist and the
forte of your blade in opposition.-  There are properly six simple
parades or parries, each haveing its compound, termed a round parade.
It is a most essential brach in fencing to form just and powerful parades,
as thereby you make good returned thrusts upon an adversary.  The
parades are divided into upper and lower, inward and outward.  Carte
and tierce, with their compounds are called upper; semi-circle and
octave, prime and seconde, with their respective compounds are termed
lower parades.  Each parade has a thrust of the like denomination.  The
angles which the parades make one with another are illustrated by the
mathematical figures in plates 3,11, and 13, and references.

PARADES- Upper, are two in number, termed carte and tierce; these with
their compounds, round carte and round tierce, defend the upper part
of your body from all thrusts and feints that possibly can be attempted.

PARADES- Lower are four in number; viz. semicircle and octave, prime and
seconde, each having a round parade.  They defend the lower part of
your body from every feint and thrust.

PLASTROON [ in French plastron] Is in a literal meaning the breastpiece of
an armour, or a leather cover for the stomach.- But the term in fencing
is applied to scholars, while under the academical rules and lessons of a
master previous to the practical application of them in assaults; the
master’s breast being covered with a leather cushion, for the purpose of
the scholar’s exercising his various thrusts thereat.

PUMMEL or POMMEL.  Is the round knob or ball fixed as a counterpoise
at the farthest extremity of the hilt or handle of a sword or foil.

PRIME PARADE Is one of the lower parades, seldom practised, except on
emergencies, when an adversary presses vigorously upon you, and
endeavours to force in within his measure- It is then a very essential
parade.  See Plate 18 : also mathematical illustration on the parades.

R.
RECOVERING Is the act of resuming your guard posture after having
made a longe at your adversary.  A quick and easy recovery to guard,
forming the most natural parade is an essential branch to your safety.

RETURN [In French riposte’] Is when you deliver a thrust instantly after
parrying one made by your adversary- If your parade has been well
formed, your return must be well delivered.  There are various sorts of
returns, either by the complete longe, the complete extension, the
extension of the arm only, or a return of the wrist.  Straight returns, or
those that touch your adversary at the moment of parrying before he
can recover to guard are by far the best.  The straight return of octave
thrust, after parrying your adversary’s, is one of the best returns in
fencing.

RETREATING- The act of stepping backward, keeping a steady position on
guard; the left foot should move first, and the right foot is instantly to
follow.

RESISTANCE- Is the act of opposing your adversary’s blade either inwards
or outwards according to the thrust you may make, by which you are
covered on the longe. See Opposition, and Covering.

ROUND PARADES- Are compound movements, and performed with
circles of like magnitudes,  There are six in number, named after the
simple parades.  As the diameters of the circles are demonstrated to be
equal to the distance of the wrist from one opposite parade to another
that is six inces, so is the periphery of these circles equal to about
nineteen inches.  See mathematical Illustrations on the round parades.

S.
SECONDE PARADE-  Is a lower outward parade, the nails being reversed,
as in tierce; and it forms the same angle with guard point as semicircle,
and has for its opposite the inward parade of prime.

SECONDE THRUST- Is the natural and corresponding thrust to the parade
of seconde; but it is often delivered after parrying your adversary’s thrust
with tierce- The nails are turned downwards when you thrust seconde,
in the same manner as when you form that parade, and your adversary’s
blade is opposed outwards.

SEMICIRCLE PARADE- Is a lower inward parade.  In performing it from
either of the guards, the point forms a curve resembling a half circle.
The angle that this parade makes with guard point is forty-five degrees
nearly.  Octave Parade is the opposite and outward.  See plate 3 and
references.

SEMICIRCLE THRUST- Generally termed the thrust of low carte,  Is the
natural thrust corresponding to the parade of semi-circle- It is a lower
inward thrust, and you oppose your adversary’s blade inwards.

STRAIGHT THRUST-  Is a thrust delivered to your adversary without
disengaging your point.  Straight thrusts are chiefly attempted after
parrying your adversary’s thrust and as such are termed straight returned
thrusts.

SHELL- of a sword or foil is that part of the hilt or handle next the blade,
serving both for an ornament and guard.  Shells that are made with
pierced or open work are esteemed the most serviceable, as they are apt
to entangle your adversay’s point that with an abrupt turn of your wrist
there is a probability of either disarming him or breaking the feeble of
his blade.

SWORD-  Is a side weapon, calculated for offence or defence- Its
constituent parts are the hilt and blade : the hilt is divided into three
parts, as the Pummel, the Grasp and the Shell ; the blade is also divided
into three, viz. the Forte, the Medium, and the Foible, or, the Strength,
the Middle and the Feeble.  See each of these articles under their respective heads.

T.
TIERCE GUARD Is the outside guard, the blades being crossed on that
side- It is the usual guard taken by skilful fencers, as from it may be
executed a variety or favourite movements; and is synonymous with
tierce engagements.  See Guards.

TIERCE PARADE Is the upper outward parade, and the opposite to carte;
and it was anciently the third parade in fencing.- This is a favorite parade
for disarming your adversary by crossing the sword. See Disarms.-Tierce
is performed by the gradual descent of the wrist outwards, the nails
reversed downwards, the point always receding to its identical direction.
See Plate 3, and references.

TIERCE THRUST Is an awkward thrust and seldom practised;- in
performing it the nails are turned downwards as in seconde, and in this
manner delivered towards the breast, opposing your adversay’s blade on
the outside.-  The thrust of carte over the arm is substituted for this
thrust and is much better in execution.

THRUSTS in general, Are offensive attacks upon an adversary; and are
chiefly executed with the longe.  On every thrust it is necessary to be
covered or secured from an interchanged one, by gently forming a
gradual opposition againnst your adversary’s blade, either inwards or
outwards according to the thrust you may intend to deliver.- (See Cover,
Opposition, and Resistance.) Thrusts are divided in the same manner as the
parades, simple and compound, upper and lower.- Simple may be
performed without disengaging straight home, or they may be
performed with a single disengagement.- Compound are such thrusts as
follow counter disengagements or compound movements.-  Besides,
there are a few miscellaneous thrusts, such as carte over the arm, thrust
of extension, time thrust, thrust of the wrist, &c.

TIME THRUST [ in French coup de tem] Is the act of delivering a thrust to
your adversary in the momentary duration of time employed by him in
executing any feint or design agaist you- They are esteemed the most
delicate thrusts in fencing; and may with facility be executed against an
adversary that makes wide feints and erroneous movements.- The nicety
required in executing the time-thrust depends more upon the
susceptibility of your hand and wrist than upon eye-sight.-  A good
fencer is so sensible of the contact of blades, that he feels the least
disengagement.

TIME THRUST ON THE EXTENSION-  is the act of delivering your
thrust to an adversary, when he has made a full lunge toward you, by
yeilding forward on the extension before he can possibly recover to
guard, or form any parade to oppose it.- This is parying and thrusting at
the same moment.  See plate 8.

THRUST OF THE WRIST- is a species of time thrust;   As it is delivered to
an adversary while you are in the act of recovering to guard, after he has
parried your first thrust, and is slow in making a return upon you.

U.

UPPER PARADES Are the inward and outward parades of carte and tierce,
with their compounds.  They cover the breast from all feints and
thrusts; and are the most advantageous parades to be practiced in
fencing with an adversary of tall stature; as he cannot with any safety
attempt the low thrusts against you, without exposing himself.

N.B. There are several other technical terms in the Art of Fencing which
were formerly made use of; but by modern practice they are now
become obsolete: it would therefore only tend to perplex the learner to
introduce more terms into the Glossary than such as are occasionally
interspersed in this Treatise.

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