parry
/ˈpæɹ.i/ verb, noun, proper noun
Forms parries parrying parried parree
- verb To avoid, deflect, or ward off (an attack, a blow, an argument, etc.).
- noun A defensive or deflective action; an act of parrying.
- noun (fencing) A simple defensive action designed to deflect an attack, performed with the forte of the blade.
- noun (combat sports, martial arts) A defensive move intended to change the direction of an incoming strike to make it miss its intended target, rather than block and absorb it; and typically performed with an open hand in a downward or sideways slapping motion.
- proper noun A surname from Welsh.
- proper noun A unisex given name.
- proper noun A hamlet in the Rural Municipality of Caledonia, No. 99, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Synonyms
parade counterpunch counter block deflect hedge fudge evade put off circumvent elude skirt dodge duck sidestep
Etymology
From earlier parree, from Middle English *parree, *paree, from Old French paree (“preparation, ceremony, parade”), from Medieval Latin parāta (“preparation, parade”), from parāre (“to ward off, guard, defend, prepare, get ready”). More at pare. The English verb is taken from the noun. Doublet of parade.
Alternative etymology derives the verb parry from French parez, the imperative form of parer (“to fend off”), ultimately from the Medieval Latin parāre. See above.
Anglicised from Welsh ap Harri, "son of Henry".
Webster’s 1913
- verb To ward off; to stop, or to turn aside; as, to parry a thrust, a blow, or anything that means or threatens harm. Locke.
- verb To avoid; to shift or put off; to evade.
- verb To ward off, evade, or turn aside something, as a blow, argument, etc. Locke.
- noun A warding off of a thrust or blow, as in sword and bayonet exercises or in boxing; hence, figuratively, a defensive movement in debate or other intellectual encounter.
Etymology [F. paré, p. p. of parer. See Pare, v. t.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “parry”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details