Parry

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈpæɹi/
• Rhymes: -æri

Alternative forms

• parree obsolete

Origin

From earlier parree, from Middle English *parree, *paree, from Old French paree ("preparation, ceremony, parade"), from Medieval Latin parāta ("preparation, parade"), from Medieval Latin parāre ("to ward off, guard, defend, prepare, get ready"). More at pare. The English verb to parry is taken from the noun.

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.

Full definition of parry

Noun

1. A defensive or deflective action; an act of parrying.
2. (fencing) A simple defensive action designed to deflect an attack, performed with the forte of the blade.

Derived terms

• beat parry
• opposition parry
• yielding parry

Verb

1. To avoid, deflect, or ward off (an attack, a blow, an argument, etc.).
• 2011, September 28, Tom Rostance, Arsenal 2 - 1 Olympiakos, Wojciech Szczesny was then called into action twice in a minute to parry fierce drives from Djebbour and Torossidis as Arsenal's back four looked all at sea.