Tierce definition
(fencing) The third defensive position, from which a lunge or parry can be made.
noun
A measure of liquid capacity, equal to a third of a pipe, or 42 gallons (159 liters).
noun
(sports) The third position from which a parry or thrust can be made in fencing.
noun
(music) An interval of a third.
noun
(obs.) A third.
noun
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An old unit of liquid measure, equal to13 pipe (42 gallons)
noun
A cask of this capacity, between a barrel and a hogshead in size.
noun
A cask whose content is one third of a pipe; that is, forty-two wine gallons; also, a liquid measure of forty-two wine, or thirty-five imperial, gallons.
noun
A cask larger than a barrel, and smaller than a hogshead or a puncheon, in which salt provisions, rice, etc., are packed for shipment.
noun
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(card games) A sequence of three playing cards of the same suit. Tierce of ace, king and queen is called tierce-major.
noun
(fencing) The third defensive position, with the sword hand held at waist height, and the tip of the sword at head height.
noun
(religion, Roman Catholic) The third hour of the day, or nine a. m,; one of the canonical hours; also, the service appointed for that hour.
noun
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(games) A sequence of three cards of the same suit.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun
Singular:
tierce
Plural:
tiercesOrigin of tierce
- Middle English from Old French from feminine of tiers third from Latin tertius trei- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From Old French tierce.
From Wiktionary