[ad. F. contre, It. contro, in same sense, a substantival use of the prep. contre, contro against.]
1. Fencing. A name applied to all circular parries, i.e., parries in which, while the hand retains the same position, the point is made to describe a circle, passing under the adverse blade so as to meet it again when the latter is ‘disengaged,’ i.e., removed from engagement. Called also counter-parry, formerly † counter-parade, counter-caveating parade.
The particular engagement is indicated by an addition, as counter-prime, -seconde, -tierce, -quarte (-carte), -quinte, -sixte, -septime, -octave (now in practice reduced to four, -seconde, -tierce, -quarte, -septime).
[1611. Florio, Contro, as Contra in all compositions. Also a Counter.]
1684. R. H., School Recreat., 67. The Counter Caveating Parade, &c. When you observe your Adversary’s Thrust coming home within your Sword, then immediately slope your Point, and bring it up again with a quick Motion on the other side of your Adversary’s, and parrie his Thrust without your Sword, that he intended to give within your Sword. Ibid., 74. This may be Parry’d, by answering every Motion, or using the Counter-caveating Parade.
1707. [see CAVEAT v. 3].
1809. Roland, Fencing, 64. To form a counter parade … at the time you disengage, I pass with a small circular motion under your wrist, or blade, and return, by forming my parade in nearly the same position I was in previously to your disengagement.
1889. W. H. Pollock, etc. Fencing (Badm. Libr.), ii. 57. Counters are named according to the engagement from which the parry is made. Ibid., 58. Reversed Counter-parries…. These, as the name indicates, are the ordinary counter-parries executed the opposite way.
2. Broadsword play. An attack made as the adversary himself leads to attack. The stronger attack takes the advantage.
3. Pugilism. A blow delivered as the adversary leads off; really a time-hit, which, if stronger than the adverse one, secures the advantage.
A counter with the other hand is called a cross-counter; e.g., if the adversary leads off with his left, he may be cross-countered with the right.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxf., viii. (1889), 71. My length of arm gave me the advantage in every counter.
1889. Badminton Libr., Boxing, 161. The leader-off has to take the counter in full face.
