en garde

[ahn gahrd, ahn gard]

interjection

Fencing.

1. (used as the call to the fencers by the director of a match to assume the prescribed position preparatory to action.)

en garde

/ ɑ̃ ɡard /

interjection

1. on guard; a call to a fencer to adopt a defensive stance in readiness for an attack or bout

adjective

1. (of a fencer) in such a stance

Word History and Origins

Origin of en garde¹

< French: on guard