tierce

American  

[teers] / tɪərs /

noun

1. an old measure of capacity equivalent to one third of a pipe, or 42 wine gallons.

2. a cask or vessel holding this quantity.

3. Ecclesiastical. Also terce the third of the seven canonical hours, or the service for it, originally fixed for the third hour of the day (or 9 a.m.).

4. Fencing. the third of eight defensive positions.

5. Piquet. a sequence of three cards of the same suit, as an ace, king, and queen tierce major, or a king, queen, and jack tierce minor.

6. Obsolete. a third or third part.

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tierce British  

/ tɪəs /

noun

1. a variant of terce

2. the third of eight basic positions from which a parry or attack can be made in fencing

3. cards a sequence of three cards in the same suit

4. an obsolete measure of capacity equal to 42 wine gallons

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Etymology

Origin of tierce

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Middle French, feminine of tiers, from Latin tertius “third”; see third

Example Sentences

Panting, with clenched teeth and tousled hair, Mary Radvanny and Sussanne Winghardy skillfully thrust and parried until a well-timed lunge in tierce pinked the Winghardy shoulder.

From Time Magazine Archive

In France, the postwar development of le tierce, a combination racing bet and lottery, which attracts 3,000,000 Frenchmen every Sunday, has made horse-track betting the country's fifth-largest industry.

From Time Magazine Archive

In his journal, he usually timed events by "tierce, vespers and compline, three of the canonical hours of prayer."

From Time Magazine Archive

Et de rechief vindrent pour demander aultres troys iours de dilacion, ainsi que le roy auoit songe de tierce nuyt en tierce nuyt.

From Lancelot of the Laik A Scottish Metrical Romance by Skeat, Walter W. (Walter William)

"Merely gave him that pretty lunge en tierce you favored me with," said he, putting his hand on his side.

From Tom Burke Of "Ours", Volume II by Lever, Charles James