Fencing. [(Also written QUART(E): a. F. quarte, ad. It. quarta fourth.
First introduced in the form quarte; in 18th c. naturalized as carte; recent writers, using French authorities, show a tendency to revert to quarte.]
A position in fencing; one of the eight parries and two usual guards of the small-sword. See quot. 1861.
1707. Sir W. Hope, Method of Fencing, 15. The only sure defence and preservative upon the ordinary Quart and Tierce Guards.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 26, ¶ 11. Questions about the Words Cart and Terce, and other Terms of Fencers.
1809. Roland, Fencing, 37. In parrying either carte or tierce the same edge of your blade will parry both parades, provided you turn your wrist in its proper position for each parade.
1840. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Tragedy, iv. He thrust carte and tierce Uncommonly fierce.
1861. G. Chapman, Foil Practice, 11. Quarte—The hand turning to the left, the point raised and inclined to the left, the finger-nails turned up (slightly).
1878. Browning, Poets Croisic, 137. No carte-and-tierce Observes the grinning fencer.
b. as vb. (nonce-word).
1765. Universal Mag., XXXVII. 41/1. I’ll carte and tierce you, you scoundrel.
