Glossary

Glossary This is a list of terms from Fiore’s treatise that are commonly used in training. The translations offered are specific to this treatise, and not necessarily in common Italian usage. Students should also note that the terms are often spelled several different ways in the source. Those interested in the translation process should read “Half Full? Translating Meza and Tutta in Fior di Battaglia” by Guy Windsor, available here: [1].

Abrazare: to wrestle.

Accressere: to step forwards without passing

alla traversa: across

Bicorno: two-horned. Specifically a guard position.

Breve: short. Specifically a guard position.

Colpo: a blow, either cut or thrust

Destra: on the right

Discressere: to step back without passing

Donna: lady. Specifically a guard position.

Falsa: false

Fendente: a descending blow

Fenestra: window. Specifically a guard position.

Fora di strada: off the line; as in “accresco fora di strada”, “I step off the line”

Frontale: frontal. Specifically a guard position.

Ligadura: a lock. Ligadura soprana= high lock; ligadura mezana= middle lock; ligadura sottana= lower lock.

Longa: long. Specifically a guard position.

Mandritto: forehand

Meza/ mezana: middle or half, depending on context.

Mezano: one of the 6 blows, these are horizontal. Literally, “middle blow”.

Passare: to pass; to step passing one foot past the other.

Passo: a passing step; also the space between your feet. Hence “passo alla traversa”, pass across.

Porta di ferro: iron door. Specifically a guard position, either middle (mezana) or whole (tutta).

Posta: Guard position. Plural poste.

Punta: point (of a weapon), or a thrust.

Rebattere: to beat aside, specifically an incoming weapon.

Remedio: remedy; specifically the defence against an attack, usually some form of parry.

Rompere: to break, as in rompere di punta, to break the thrust (a defensive action).

Roverso: backhand

Scambiare: to exchange. Specifically, scambiare di punta, the exchange of thrust (a defensive action).

Sinestra: on the left.

Sottano: a rising blow.

Strada: way, line. Specifically the line between two fencers. Usually in context “fora di strada”, off the line.

Tondo: a horizontal blow (as mezano).

Tornare: to pass backwards.

Tutta: whole or full.

Vera croce: true cross. Specifically a guard position.

Volta: turn, specifically volta stabile, stable turn; meza volta, half turn; tutta volta, whole turn.

Zenghiaro: wild boar. Specifically a guard position. Usual form “posta di dente di zenghiaro”, position of the wild boar’s tooth.

Zogho largo: wide play. Specifically actions with weapons that occur at wide measure.

Zogho stretto: close play. Specifically actions with or without weapons that occur in close measure.

These terms are frequently combined, such as the names of the blows; mandritto fendente, for example, is a forehand descending blow.