tierce

[ teers ]

noun

1. an old measure of capacity equivalent to one third of a pipe, or 42 wine gallons.
2. a cask or vessel holding this quantity.
3. Also terce []. Ecclesiastical. the third of the seven canonical hours, or the service for it, originally fixed for the third hour of the day (or 9 a.m.).
4. Fencing. the third of eight defensive positions.
5. Piquet. a sequence of three cards of the same suit, as an ace, king, and queen tierce major, or a king, queen, and jack tierce minor.
6. Obsolete. a third or third part.

tierce

/ tɪəs /

noun

1. a variant of terce
2. the third of eight basic positions from which a parry or attack can be made in fencing
3. tɜːs cards a sequence of three cards in the same suit
4. an obsolete measure of capacity equal to 42 wine gallons

Word History and Origins

Origin of tierce¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Middle French, feminine of tiers, from Latin tertius “third”; third

Word History and Origins

Origin of tierce¹

C15: from Old French, feminine of tiers third, from Latin tertius

Example Sentences

A: Then I score 6 for the point, 15 for the quint sequence, and 3 for the tierce, making 24.

From Project Gutenberg

Distress and illness succeeded; but Charles I. being made aware of his forlorn condition, granted him an additional pension, and that tierce of canary, whose successors have been drained by all poet-laureates since his day.

From Project Gutenberg

Yes, from a thrust in tierce, which burst the doublet, Then carved its cruel way between the ribs Through to the chest and to the liver, which, As you well know, makes blood.

From Project Gutenberg

Lad, it stabs me like a French dirk, nor can I guard the thrust in tierce!

From Project Gutenberg

On each side of the door are huge stacks of staves, piled up in a very uniform manner, used for making hogsheads or tierces for packing sugar, or puncheons for the conveyance of rum.

From Project Gutenberg