the second of eight positions from which a parry or attack can be made in fencing
Word origin
C18: from French seconde parade the second parry
seconde in American English
(sɪˈkɑnd, French səˈɡɔ̃d)
nounWord forms: plural-condes (-ˈkɑndz, French -ˈɡɔ̃d)
Fencing
the second of the eight defensive positions
Word origin
[1680–90; ‹ F, fem. of secondsecond1]This word is first recorded in the period 1680–90. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: bull's-eye, commercial, knockdown, picket, turnoff