a rapier with a three-sided blade and a guard over the tip.
the art or sport of fencing with an épée, points being made by touching any part of the opponent's body with the tip of the weapon.
1885–90; < French: sword < Latin spatha sword < Greek spáthē blade. See spade 1
An epee is a special sword that fencers use. The blade of an epee is heavier and stiffer than those of other types of fencing swords. Use your epee with caution! Epee comes from the French épée, or "sword," and the sword itself is a descendent of the 19th century fighting weapon called the Épée de Combat. These original epees ended in sharp points, while a sport fencer's epee is blunt. In fencing, there are three weapons, including the foil and sabre. When using an epee, fencers can use the opponent's entire body as a target — each "touch" is registered as a point.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In Central Washington, it was an effort that required almost as much quick footwork as the épée squad she captained as a championship fencer in college.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 21, 2021
Yep, the wheelchair fencing has the team épée gold at the end of the day’s qualifying fights.
From The Guardian • Aug. 26, 2021
The American’s fell 45-39 to Japan in the men’s épée event.
From Fox News • Jul. 30, 2021
Estonia has its first Olympic gold medal in 13 years after Katrina Lehis sealed a tense 36-32 victory over South Korea in the final of women’s team épée fencing.
From Washington Post • Jul. 26, 2021
In épée, I had time to feel my opponent out and was able to build my strategy during the bout.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
