Fencing. ? Obs. Also 7 fluret(t, floret, [a. F. fleuret, f. fleur flower = It. fioretto, dim. of fiore flower; so called because the button at the point was compared to a flower-bud.] A fencing-foil.
a. 1648. Ld. Herbert, Life (1770), 46. The good Fencing-masters, in France especially, when they present a Foyle or Fleuret to their Scholars, tell him it hath two Parts, one of which he calleth the Fort or strong, and the other the Foyble or weak.
1674. Gov. Tongue, vii. § 9. 126. In such Fencings the Florets have turn’d to Swords, and not only the Friendship, but the Men have fallen a Sacrifice to a Jest.
1691. Sir W. Hope, Compl. Fencing-master (1697), 13. They see at every other Thrust their Flurett beat out of their Hand.
1885. E. Castle, Schools of Fence, xv. 246. The flexible fleuret could only be used when the play was restricted to the point.
