Glossary of Italian fencing terms

Many of the historical techniques currently listed here come from the teachings of Fiore dei Liberi^{[citation needed]} or the Bolognese / Dardi School.^[1]

A

a voi

phrase, lit. "to you"

Spoken by the director at outset to turn control over to the fencers. Full commencing phrase is "In guardia. Pronti/-e? A voi"

B

balestra

noun f. (plural balestre), lit. "crossbow"

A footwork preparation, consisting of a jump or hop forwards with an immediate lunge. This is the definition found in the French national fencing glossary, though it is common in the English world for balestra to refer to only a jump. Jumps are faster than a normal step, which helps change the rhythm and timing of moves

C

colpo fendente

noun m. (plural colpi fendenti), lit. "cleaving blow" [fendente cognate with English fend, both deriving from Latin findō ("cleave, split")]

(Fiore) A descending blow which parts the body from the teeth to the knee.^{[citation needed]} Follows the same path as the cut which Dardi authors called mandritto squalembrato
(Dardi school) A descending vertical cut^[1]

Abbr. fendente

colpo mezano

noun m. (plural colpi mezani), lit. "middle blow"

A blow which goes through the middle of fendenti e sottani, delivered with the true edge on the mandritto side and the false edge on the riverso side. Its path is "between the knee and the head"^{[citation needed]}

Abbr. mezano

colpo sottano

noun m. (plural colpi sottani), (archaic) "lower blow"

A rising blow which parts the body from the knees to the middle of the forehead^{[citation needed]}

Abbr. sottano

D

dritto

adjective m. (plural dritti), lit. "right (side)"

Describes any cut that starts on the fencer's right side. Applies to cuts: falso dritto, fendente dritto, molinetto dritto, e tramazzone dritto.^[1] Antonyms: riverso e manco

F

falso

noun m. (plural falsi), lit. "right (side)"

A rising cut made with the false edge of the blade on the same line as either colpo squalembrato^[1]

adjective m.

Describes any cut made with the false edge of the blade^[1]

fendente

noun m. (plural fendenti)

Abbr. of colpo fendente

I

imbroccata

noun f. (plural imbroccate)

An overhand descending thrust^[1]

in guardia

phrase, lit. "en garde"

Spoken by the director to alert fencers to take their stances. Full commencing phrase is "In guardia. Pronti/-e? A voi"

in quartata

phrase

An evasive action that is recognized under category of the defensive actions (See also #passata-sotto), made with a quarter turn to the inside that conceals the front but exposes the back. This attempts to move some of the target out of harm’s way during an attack or a counter-attack. This evasive action is often executed and used in conjunction with opposition parry

M

manco

adjective m. (plural manchi), lit. "right (side)". antonyms: riverso, dritto

Describes any cut that starts on the fencer's left side. Applies to cuts: falso manco, fendente manco, molinetto manco, e tramazzone manco^[1]

mandritto

noun m. (plural mandritti). antonyms: riverso, colpo manco

Any cut that starts on the fencer's right side^[1]
A descending right-to-left diagonal cut on the line from ear to knee, mirroring riverso squalembrato.^[1] Also called mandritto squalembrato>

mezano

noun m. (plural mezani)

Abbr. of colpo mezano

molinetto

noun m. (plural molinetti)

A certain rotational cut^[1]

montando

adjective m. (plural montandi), gerund of montare ("to climb")

Describes an ascending cut^[1]

montante

noun m. (plural montanti), past participle of montare ("to climb")

An ascending vertical cut^[1]

P

passata-sotto

noun f.

An evasive action which is initiated by dropping a hand to the floor and lowering the body under the opponent's oncoming blade. Often accompanied by a straightening of the sword arm to attempt a hit on the opposing combatant

patinando

noun & verb (plural patinandi), gerund of patinare ("to patine")

A quickly executed advance-lunge

posta breve

noun f. (plural poste brevi)

The short guard^{[citation needed]}

posta breve la serpentina

noun f. (plural poste brevi la serpentina)

The short serpant guard^{[citation needed]}

posta dente di zenghiaro^[2]

noun f. (plural poste dente di zenghiaro)

The boar's tooth guard^{[citation needed]}

Abbr. dente di zenghiaro

posta dente di zenghiaro^[2] mezana

noun f. (plural poste dente di zenghiaro mezane)

The middle boar's tooth guard^{[citation needed]}

Abbr. dente di zenghiaro mezana

posta di bicorno: noun f.; The two-horn guard^{[citation needed]}

posta di coda longa: noun f.; The long tail guard. Also posta di choda longa^{[citation needed]}

posta di coda longa la sinestra: noun f.; The left-side long tail guard^{[citation needed]}

posta di crose bastarda: noun f.; The bastard cross guard, a variant of la posta di vera crose.^{[citation needed]} Taking a pass at the opponent from posta breve la serpentina leaves the fencer in posta di crose bastarda, with the pommel towards the opponent

posta di corona: noun f.; The crown guard. Also called posta frontale ("frontal guard")^{[citation needed]}

posta di donna: noun f.; The lady guard^{[citation needed]}

posta di donna la sinestra: noun f.; The left-side lady guard^{[citation needed]}

posta di donna la soprano: noun f.; The high lady guard^{[citation needed]}

posta di fenestra: noun f.; The window guard^{[citation needed]}

posta di fenestra la sinestra: noun f.; The left-side window guard^{[citation needed]}

posta di vera crose: noun f.; The true cross guard^{[citation needed]}

posta frontale: noun f.; The frontal guard. Also called posta di corona ("crown guard")^{[citation needed]}

posta longa: noun f.; The long guard^{[citation needed]}

posta mezza porta di ferro: noun f.; The middle iron gate guard. Also called posta di ferro mezano^{[citation needed]}

posta porta di ferro: noun f.; The iron gate guard^{[citation needed]}

posta porta di ferro la sinestra: noun f.; The left-side iron gate guard^{[citation needed]}

posta porta di ferro tutta: noun f.; The full iron gate guard^{[citation needed]}

posta saggitaria: noun f.; The archer's guard^{[citation needed]}

pronti

adjective m. (singular pronto)

Spoken by the director at outset to ask if the fencers are ready to fight. When both fencers are female, the proper word is "pronte." Full commencing phrase is "In guardia. Pronti/-e? A voi"
plural of pronto ("ready")

punta

noun f. (plural punte)

A thrust, whose path is in the middle of the body from the groin to the forehead. Can be made in five ways: Two high—One left one right—(needs work)^{[citation needed]}
lit. "point"

R

ricasso

A dull portion of the blade in front of the quillons. In complex rapier and smallsword hilts, the ricasso is behind the guard, or the forward portion of the hilt

ridoppio

noun m. (plural ridoppi)

A rising cut with either edge that immediately follows a descending cut^[1]
lit. "redouble"

riverso

noun m. (plural riversi)

Any cut that starts opposite the fencer's dominant side. Antonyms: mandritto, e manco^[1]
A certain descending diagonal cut on the line from ear to knee. Also called riverso squalembrato. Mirror of mandritto squalembrato^[1]

S

stoccata

noun f. (plural stoccate)

A rising thrust^[1]

sonno serpentino lo soprano

noun m. (plural sonni serpentini lo soprano)

Sleeping high serpent (guard)^{[citation needed]}

squalembrato

adjective m. (plural squalembrati)

Describes any descending diagonal cut on the line from ear to knee. Applies to i colpi mandritto e riverso. Reverse of il falso^[1]

T

tondo

adjective m. (plural tondi)

Describes a cut which travels horizontally. Applies to i colpi mandritto e riverso
lit. "circular"

tramazzone

noun m. (plural colpi tramazzoni )

A certain rotational cut^[1]

traversato

adjective m. (plural traversati)

Describes a blow made across the line of engagement
past participle of traversare ("to cross")

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r Antonio Manciolino. Opera Nova. 1531.
^ ^a ^b Note: Spelling of zenghiaro varies in manuscripts: zenghiaro, zengiaro, zenchiaro, cenghiaro, cengiaro.

[manciolino-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r Antonio Manciolino. Opera Nova. 1531.

[zenghiaro-2] Note: Spelling of zenghiaro varies in manuscripts: zenghiaro, zengiaro, zenchiaro, cenghiaro, cengiaro.

[1]

[2]

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