fencing

The action, practice, or art of fencing, or use of the sword. to make fence: to assume a fencing attitude. Also, master, teacher of fence.

The practice, art, or skill of defending oneself; self-defence. Now chiefly in art (also science) of defence: a particular discipline, method, or…

More fully noble science of defence. Fencing; (also) martial or military skill. Now chiefly historical and archaic.

fencing

The action or art of using the sword scientifically as a weapon of offence or defence; the practice of this art with a blunted sword, foil, or stick.

Fighting or fencing with swords; hand-to-hand fight.

The action of plying or wielding a sword briskly, as in fencing; the art or practice of fencing.

The art of fencing, esp. with sabre or sword.

Any system of techniques for defending oneself against an assailant. Cf. defence, n. 4.

In extended use, denoting a game, sport, or other activity conceived as being similarly organized. Frequently somewhat humorous. Now rare except in…

= swordsmanship, n.

The quality or art of a swordsman; skill in the use of the sword.

Striking with a sword; exercise with the sword, fencing (in quot. 1899 attributive).

= sword-play, n. 1; also figurative.