TIERCE


Meaning of TIERCE in English

I.

variant of terce

II. ˈti(ə)rs noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle English terce, tierce, from Middle French, from feminine of terz, ters, tiers, adjective, third, from Latin tertius — more at third

1. obsolete : third 1

2.

a. : any of various units of liquid capacity equal to 1/3 pipe ; especially : a unit equal to 42 wine gallons

b. : a cask of tierce capacity for wine or other commodities (as salted meat)

3. : a sequence of three playing cards of the same suit

4. : a fencing parry or guard position which defends the upper outside target and in which the hand is in a position of pronation at chest height and the tip of the blade is directed toward the opponent's eyes — compare sixte

5.

a. : third 4

b. : the tone two octaves and a major third above a given tone

c. : an organ stop giving tones at this interval from the normal pitch of the digitals

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.