|
A Concise Dictionary of Terms
Used in the German Longsword Tradition
A | |
Abhauwen | Cutting
Away |
Ablauffen | Running
Off |
Abschneiden | Slicing
Off |
Absetzen | Catching |
Abzug | Withdrawal |
After | See States
of Timing. |
Alber | Fool |
Approach | See Onset |
Attack | Onset |
Auffangen | Catching |
Ausreissen | Wrenching |
Austretten | Stepping
Out |
B | |
Barring | Controlling
Handwork: An action that blocks off the
opponent's sword. Barring and crossing over refer to crossing one's hands so as
to place one's blade perpendicularly across one's opponent's (the action
typically happens from the right side). Shooting over refers to the action of
sliding the blade over the opponent's, ending forte to forte, typically as a
followup to crossing over.
-
sperren: Egenolph 7v; Meyer 22v. Cf. also its use in Meyer's
rapier section.
-
überschrenken: Meyer 54v, 55v, 59r
|
Before | See States
of Timing. |
Binding | Defensive Handwork:
A state of engagement with the opponent's sword, usually brought
about when one combatant has attacked and the other has parried. Once in the
bind position, the combatant can remain with blades in contact, called remaining
(bleiben) [Meyer 17v]; here he can take the opportunity to sense his opponent's
intentions through the nature of the pressure on his blade, called feeling
(fühlen) [Ringeck 21r, 38r-v; Meyer 17v].
-
anbinden: Egenolph 9v;
Mair (Vienna) 28r; Meyer 17v, 41r, 42r, 64r
-
binden: Starhemberg 36v, Meyer 59v
|
Bindt | Haft (grip), part of
the hilt; see Parts of the Weapon. |
Bladework | The early sources suggest that cuts are to be dealt powerfully,
with a style in which the cuts are delivered with the arms fully extended, striking well in at the opponent's body and head rather than at his sword. |
Bleiben | Remaining; see Binding |
Blendhauw | Blind
Cut |
Blind Cut | Secondary Cut:
A winding-through maneuver designed to draw the opponent to one
side, followed by a snapping attack to the opposite side.
|
Blocking | Slicing Handwork:
A "sticky-hands" use of the slice in Meyer, where one keeps
one's forte on the opponent's arm or weapon until an opportune opening
arises.
|
Breaking Through | Controlling
Handwork: ?From a bind, to force through the opponent's weapon.
|
Brechfenster | Break-Window;
see Window |
C | |
Catching | Defensive
Handwork: A simple form of parry in which the opponent's attack is
caught by interposing one's own weapon rather than set off with a counterstroke.
-
auffangen: Meyer 16v, 37v, 42v
-
absetzen: Ringeck 51r; Starhemberg 30r; Egenolph 13r; Mair
(Vienna) (= avertere) 13r, 35v, 52r; Cgm 3712 123 ff.; Meyer 18v, 51r, 51v
|
Catching Over | Close-Quarters Handwork:
To snag the pommel over the opponent's arm or sword.
|
Change |  Secondary Guard:
A guard with the hilt near to
the belly, the point hanging down to the side at more or less a right angle to
the line of encounter, the short edge facing the opponent.
-
Wechsel: Mair (Vienna)
18r?, 35r?, 63v?; Meyer 8r, 22v, 42r ff.; right-
hand: 26r, 42r, 51r, 55r; left-hand: 64v
|
Change Cut | Secondary Cut:
A cut that moves from one quarter to another.
|
Changing | Deceiving Handwork:
To change the line of attack from one target to another during
an attack. This maneuver is called changing through or going through when
executed under the opponent's weapon.
-
wechseln, Wechsel: Mair (Vienna)
62r; Meyer 17v, 21r, 62r
-
durchwechseln Döbringer 48r; Ringeck 41r; Starhemberg 30v; Mair (Vienna) 61r; Meyer 21r, 21v, 42r.1, 30v, 49v, 50v, 52v, 53r, 54v-55r
|
Changing Through | see Changing |
Chasing | Miscellaneous Handwork:
An attack made once the opponent has already
gathered for or delivered an attack, so that the combatant is in the state of
the After.
-
nachreisen: von Danzig 27v ff.;
Mair (Vienna) 5v ff., 26v (= instantia),
82v (= ratio urgendi hostem insequendo progressu); Cgm 3712 120r
ff.; Meyer 17v, 21v (2x), 26v, 36r,
38v, 51r, 55v, 59r-59v
|
Chief Guards | The
four principal guards in the German longsword tradition: High;
Ox; Plow; and Fool. |
Circle | Deceiving Handwork:
An attack in which the combatant rotates the sword more or less parallel to
the line of encounter to rake the opponent's side vertically with the short edge.
-
Zirckel, Zürckel: Meyer 18v, 20v, 35r.3, 36r, 40v, 47v, 49v,
51v, 53r, 53v; cf. also 26r.1, 33r.1
|
Clashing Cut |  Secondary Cut:
A short-edge cut in which the hands point upward and the sword
crosses in front of the body at an angle to the line of encounter.
-
Glietzhauw, Glützhauw: Meyer 13r, 16r, 35r, 51v
|
Closing | See Running In
|
Codex Wallerstein | A manuscript compiled some time in the 15th century from a variety of sources, some of which
could date as early as the late 14th century. This text has several sections on
unarmored longsword combat. |
Controlling Maneuvers | Handwork |
Countercutting | Defensive
Handwork: The use of a countercut to parry the opponent's attack. |
Crooked Cut |  Master Cut:
A cut delivered from the right, bringing the sword
counterclockwise around the hilt at right angles to the line of encounter.
-
Krumphauw, Krumm- ; Krump: Ringeck 24v ff.;
Starhemberg 17r ff.;
Mair (Vienna) 1v (= ictus curvus), 10r; Jörg Wilhalm 3711 10r-v (=3712 105r-v);
Meyer 12v, 40r, 47r, 47v-51r, 52v, 54v, 55r; cf.
2:9v
|
Cross Cut | Miscellaneous Attacks:
A pair of Wrath Cuts delivered from each side.
|
Crossbar | Part of the hilt; see Parts of the Weapon. |
Crossed Guard |
 Secondary Guard:
A guard in which the arms are forward, and the sword hangs at
90° to the line of encounter.
-
Schrankhut: Döbringer 32r, 48v; Ringeck 25v, 51v;
Starhemberg 17r-v; Mair (Vienna) 32v, 54r (=custodia cancellata); Meyer 8r, 40r
|
Crossguard | Crossbar, part of the
hilt; see Parts of the Weapon. |
Crossing Over | see
Barring |
Crowding | see Chasing |
Crown | Defensive Handwork:
(1) In Mair, holding
the sword in the half-sword position and catching the incoming attack with it.
(2) In Meyer, a form of catching in which the
incoming attack is caught on the combatant's quillons, which are held horizontal
above the combatant's head.
-
Kron, Krone: Ringeck 20r, 33r ff.;
Starhemberg 25r;
Mair (Vienna) 34r,
52r, 55r ff., 59r; Jörg Wilhalm 3711 41r ff. (=3712 135r ff.); Meyer 21v, 35v, 60v, 62r
|
Crown Cut | Secondary Cut:
In Meyer, this is a short-edge cut executed from the Crown
parry.
|
Cut | Attacks: An attack delivered with the
long or short edge of the blade, normally with the
foible. |
Cutting Away | Miscellaneous Handwork:
A cut delivered to cover the combatant's retreat from
engagement.
sich weg hauwen: Meyer 2r, 38v.1, 53r.3 hauwen sich von: Meyer 33v.1, 50r.4, 50v.1
|
Cutting Through | Miscellaneous Attacks:
An action in which the
sword sweeps through before the opponent.
-
durchstreichen ("slashing through"): Ringeck 50v; Egenolph 13r;
Meyer 14v, 23r, 26r.1, 34r, 42r.4, 51r.2, 53v.1, 60v.2, 62r.3
-
auffstreichen ("slashing up"): Ringeck 49r ff.; Egenolph 11r; Mair (Vienna)
35r (= vibrare), 50r (= vibrare sursum), 52v; Meyer 27v.1, 28v.1, 29r.1,
31v.1, 33v.1, 33r.1, 42v.1, 63v.1
|
D | |
von Danzig, Peter | Author
of a text on armored combat dating from 1452. The same manuscript (known as
the Starhemberg Fechtbuch) contains
unattributed commentaries on Liechtenauer based
in part on an earlier Ringeck text. |
Day | see High |
Deceiving | A general word for all kinds of deceptive maneuvers, but
especially for one in which the combatant makes the opponent believe the attack
will come in one area, but brings it home in another.
-
verführen: Meyer 18v, 38v, 40v, 47v, 50r, 54r
|
Deep | A term used in the German
manuals to indicate the angulation of one's blade well around that of the
opponent. |
Devices | Attack
combinations designed to get past the opponent's defenses. |
Division | see Targets |
Döbringer, Hanko | Author of the
earliest surviving commentaries on Liechtenauer's
verses, dating from 1389. |
Double step | Footwork: Meyer's double step actually consists of
three steps, lunge-stepping with one foot away from the other, gathering the
other toward it, and lunge-stepping with the first foot again. |
Doubling | Deceiving Handwork:
A parried long-edge attack followed with a
secondary attack behind the opponent's blade
-
duplieren, doplieren: Ringeck 24r;
Starhemberg 16r ff., 19v, 20r,
23r, 28r, 32r, 36v; Mair (Vienna) 6v, 20v, 33v; Meyer 19r, 60r
|
Duplieren | Doubling |
Durchbrechen | Breaking
Through |
Durchgehn | Going
Through; see Changing |
Durchhauwen | Cutting
Through |
Durchstreichen | Slashing
Through; see Cutting Through |
Durchwinden | Winding
Through |
Durwechseln | Changing
Through; see Changing |
E | |
Egenolph | The publisher of a printed German
text from 1529 containing a section on the longsword, with woodcuts and with
passages from
Liechtenauer. |
Einlauffen | Running In |
Einhorn | Unicorn |
Eisenport | Iron
Gate |
Erwischen | Evading |
Eussere Nym | Outside
Taking |
Evading | Defensive
Handwork: Evading an attack by moving the body in such a way as to make it
miss.
-
erwischen?: Meyer 47r
-
entfallen: Meyer 59v.1
|
F | |
Failing | Deceiving
Handwork: A cut that deliberately misses its target.
-
fehlen ("miss"): Meyer 8r, 19v, 30v, 44r, 55v, 56v, 57r, 58r
-
Fehler: Ringeck 29v ff.; von Danzig 22r; Egenolph 5v;
Mair (Vienna) 3v,
6v, 19r, 30v (= ictus erraticus); Meyer 49v, 56v, 57r, 58r.
|
False edge | see Short
edge
|
Feeling | see Binding |
Fehlen | Failing |
Flick | Miscellaneous Attacks:
A flicking
cut with the tip of the sword, most often delivered with the short edge or (in Meyer) the flat.
-
Schnall ("flick"): Meyer 21r, 31v, 49v, 50r, 51r
-
Schneller ("flicker"): Meyer 14v, 37v
|
Fliegelhauw | Wing-Cut |
Flitting | Deceiving Handwork:
A pulling that happens before blade
contact.
-
verfliegen, -fligen, -flügen: Meyer 7v, 18v, 30v, 33v?, 34v,
36r, 38v, 45v, 47v, 50v, 51r, 57r, 59v
|
Foible | The part of the blade past the
midpoint, used for attacks at distance. See Parts of
the Weapon. |
Fool |  Chief Guard:
A
guard in which the sword is held in front of the body with the
point directed toward the ground in the direction of the opponent, short edge
upwards.
-
Alber: Döbringer 32r; Ringeck 34v; Starhemberg
26r, 34r, 34v; Lew
29r; Mair (Vienna) 4v, 25v; Jörg Wilhalm 3711 12r-v (=3712 107r-v); Meyer 7v, 19r, 21v.2, 21v.1
|
Footwork | The most systematic discussion of footwork is to be found in
Meyer, who distinguishes forward, back, and side steps (all of which can be
found throughout the tradition), as well as double steps,
gathering steps, and volte steps. See also pass
step. |
Forte | The
closer part of the blade, used for techniques requiring leverage. See Parts
of the Weapon. |
Fühlen | Feeling; see Binding |
G | |
Gathering step | Footwork:
Bringing one foot toward the other, typically to prepare for a
step on the other foot. |
Gefeß | Quillons (crossbar),
part of the hilt; see Parts of the Weapon. |
Gerade Häuw | Straight
Cuts |
Gladiatoria | The earliest
family of combat manuals to combine images with substantial texts, dating from the first half of
the 15th century. |
Glützhauw | Clashing
Cut |
Going Through | see Changing |
Grip | Haft, part of the hilt; see
Parts of the Weapon. |
Grip |  Throughout the tradition, the right hand is at the top of the
grip, next to the crossbar; the left hand grasps the pommel, or the grip just
inside the pommel.
|
Gripping Over | Miscellaneous Handwork:
To let some of one's right-hand fingers go over the
quillon.
|
Guards | Standardized positions from which to begin
an encounter. |
H | |
Haft | Part of the hilt; see Parts of the Weapon. |
Halb Schwerdt | Half-Sword |
Half-Sword |  Close-Quarters Handwork:
This technique involves releasing the left hand from the pommel and
grasping the blade.
|
Handtarbeit | Handwork |
Handwork | Stages
of Combat: The Handwork consists of the actions that take
place once the swords have engaged. It is also called the Middle or War. At this stage, attacks are usually shortened, using the
short edge and emphasizing the middle and forte of the blade. |
Hangen | Hanging |
Hangetort | Hanging
Point |
Hanging | Defensive handwork:
This term can refer to a number of actions executed with the
blade at an incline (mostly downward to the point). One of its most frequent
manifestations is a technique in which the blade slopes downward over an
opponent's guard to attack him.
-
hangen, hengen: Ringeck 46v;
Starhemberg 36r, 37r ff..;
Mair (Vienna) 22r-
v, 24v (= inclinatio), 48r; Jörg Wilhalm 3711 36v ff. (=3712 130v
ff.); Meyer 22r, 61r, 63r-63v, 64r
|
Hanging Point |  Secondary Guard:
A guard that appears in 16th century sources, with the hilt
extended forward, point down and forward.
-
Hangetort: Meyer 9r, 39v, 61r
-
Hangend ort: Egenolph 7v;
Mair (Vienna) (=
mucro pendens) 1:1r, 6v, 10r
ff., 18v, 19r, 37r
|
Hard bind | An opponent who commits strongly to a
parry is called being
"hard" in the bind. The sources recommend using "softness" (such as pulling) against an opponent who is hard in the
bind. |
Heft | Haft, part of the
hilt; see Parts of the Weapon. |
Hendtrucken | Pressing
the Hands |
Hengen | Hanging |
High |
 Chief
Guard: In
the 15th century sources, there are two versions of this
guard: one has the sword on the shoulder, the other has it stretched out above
the head.
-
Tag: Meyer 6v, 11v, 31r ff., 53v, 55r
-
vom Tag(e): Döbringer 27r-v, 32r; Ringeck 34r-v, 35r, 52v;
Starhemberg 18v, 19r, 25v-26r, 26v, 27v; Lew 29r; Mair (Vienna) 4v (= habitus qui a similitudine
pastorum factus cum baculis recta innituntur, ictus qui a similitudine pastorum
...ter greges fustibus innitentium dictus est), 20r, 25v;
Jörg Wilhalm 3711 14v (= 3712 109v)
|
High Cut | Straight
Cut and Master Cut: A downwards cut from above; a powerful attack and one of the
most common in the system.
-
Oberhauw: Ringeck 24v, 29v, 30r;
Starhemberg 17r; Talhoffer 1467:
1, 3, 17, 28; Mair (Vienna) 9v, 10v, 51r, 66r; Jörg Wilhalm 3711 2r ff.
(=3712 97r ff.); Meyer 11r, 35r.3, 40r, 43r, 49v, 50v, 51v,
53r, 53v, 57r, 60v, 64r, 64v.
-
Scheitelhauw, Schaitler-, Schaitler: Ringeck 32v ff.;
Starhemberg 24v ff.; Mair (Vienna) 3r, 10v, 19r (= ictus quo capitis vertex appetitur); Jörg Wilhalm 3711 12v, 22r (=3712 107v, 117r);
Meyer 11r
|
Hilt | The hilt consists of the pommel, crossbar, and haft.
16th century sources also refer to the shield. The hilt is used
for infighting techniques. See Parts
of the Weapon. |
Horizontal Cut | see Middle
Cut |
I | |
Indes | Instantly; see States
of Timing. |
Inside flat | The side of the
blade corresponding to the palm of the
right hand. |
Instantly | See States
of Timing. |
Iron Gate |  Secondary Guard: In Meyer,
a guard like the Plow, but with the hilt held out in front of
the knee and the crossbar vertical.
|
J | |
K | |
Key |  Secondary Guard:
A guard found in Meyer, in which the sword is held horizontally
in front of the upper chest, point forward, short edge resting on the forward
arm.
|
Kniechelhauw | Wrist
Cut |
Knopf | Pommel, part of the
hilt; see Parts of the Weapon. |
Knuckle Cut | See Wrist Cut
|
Kreutz | Crossbar, part of
the hilt; see Parts of the Weapon. |
Kreutzhauw | Cross
Cut |
Krieg | War; see Handwork |
Kron | Crown |
Kronhauw | Crown
Cut |
Krump | Crooked; see Crooked
Cut |
Krumphauw | Crooked
Cut |
Kurtze Schneid | Short
Edge |
Kurtzhauw | Short
Cut |
L | |
Lange Schneid | Long
Edge |
Langort | Longpoint |
Langschwert | Longsword |
Liechtenauer, Johannes | 14th
century martial arts master whose few hundred
short lines of rather cryptic verses provide the earliest surviving description
of the use of the longsword. These verses form the basis of a large number of
commentaries and other derivative works in the late 14th through 17th
centuries. |
Line of encounter | An imaginary line drawn between the
torsos of the two combatants. |
Long edge | The front or
knuckle side of the blade. The long edge is mostly used for initial and
withdrawing attacks. See Parts of the Weapon. |
Longpoint |  Secondary Guard:
A
guard in which the arms and sword are extended toward the
opponent.
-
Langort: Ringeck 47v; Starhemberg 27r, 31r, 36r; Jörg Wilhalm
3711 30r ff., 38r (=3712 124r ff., 132r); Meyer 7v, 36v,
37v (2x), 38r, 38v, 39v, 40r, 40v, 41r ff., 42r.1, 51r, 53r, 55r, 60v, 61r.
|
Longsword |  The
longsword (Langschwert) was regarded as
the basis of all martial arts. Surviving examples, mostly from the 15th and 16th centuries,
typically have a blade some 40 in. long (100cm), and a grip of about 10 in. (25cm),
and weigh around 3-5 lbs. (1.3-2.3 kg).
|
Looping | Deceiving Handwork:
An action that brings the sword around in a
circle overhead, apparently used to deceive or confuse the opponent.
|
Low Cut | Straight Cut:
A cut delivered diagonally upwards with the long edge.
-
Underhauw: Ringeck 24v, 30r, 35v, 54v;
Starhemberg 17r; Talhoffer
1467: 1; Mair (Vienna) 16v, 29v, 50v; Meyer 11v, 33v, 34v, 35r, 37v, 38r, 40r, 49v, 50r,
53r, 53v, 61v, 62r, 62v, 63v, 64v.
|
Lunge step | Footwork: A
step in which extends one foot
away from the other. |
M | |
Mair, Paulus Hector | Author of a massive illustrated treatise
on the longsword dating to about 1550. Mair's section on the longsword consists of a series of
illustrated combat sequences, followed by a version of the Starhemberg
commentaries. |
Master Cuts | Attacks:
The cuts traditionally identified in the German sources as the
key to effective longsword combat, which include: High Cut;
Wrath Cut; Thwart Cut; Crooked
Cut; and Squinting Cut. |
Meyer, Joachim | Author
of the most important printed text on the longsword (and other weapons
forms), first published
in 1570. Meyer's text begins with a discussion of
concepts and terms, followed by a series of combat sequences to execute from the
various guards, and finally a Liechtenauer-inspired poem by the author, with
extensive explanation and commentary. |
Middle | see Handwork |
Middle Cut | Straight Cut:
A cut delivered horizontally with the long edge.
-
Mittelhauw: Mair (Vienna)
30r; Meyer 11r, 26v, 33r, 35r, 39v, 50r,
60v. Cf. Gladiatoria 53v (with judicial combat shield)
-
Überzwerchhauw; Überzwerch: Meyer 11v
|
Middle Guard |  Secondary Guard:
A guard found in Meyer, similar to the Side Guard, but with the
blade held horizontally just below shoulder height.
|
Mittel | Middle; see Handwork |
Mittelhauw | Middle
Cut |
Mittelhut | Middle
Guard |
Mortstreich | Murder-Stroke |
Murder-Stroke |
 Miscellaneous Attacks:
A technique in which the sword is held in both hands by the
blade, and a blow delivered with the crossbar or pommel.
-
Mortschlag: Talhoffer 1467: 33-34,
von Danzig 113v
-
Mordstreich: Talhoffer 1467: 47, 53, 56, 58
|
Mutieren | Transmuting |
N | |
Nach | After; see States
of Timing. |
Nachreisen | Chasing |
Nebenhut | Side
Guard |
O | |
Oberhauw | High
Cut |
Ochs | Ox |
Onset | The
Stages of Combat: The Onset is the stage in which the combatant adopts a guard and launches an attack,
typically a long-edge cut using the foible of the blade. |
Outside Taking | Miscellaneous Handwork:
A technique in
which a counterattack is delivered while remaining in contact with the
opponent's sword.
|
Outside flat | The side of the
blade corresponding to the back of the
right hand. |
Overreaching | see Overrunning |
Overrunning | Miscellaneous Attacks:
To deliver an
attack from above; it can be used to counter an attack from below
by "overreaching," i.e. taking advantage of the greater reach of the high
attack.
-
überlauffen: Ringeck 39v;
Starhemberg 30r;
Mair (Vienna) 8v ff.
(= occursatio), 15v, 29v (= accursus); 29v (habitus quo contra hostem irruimus),
84r (superinjectio ensis); Jörg Wilhalm 3711 27r ff. (=3712 121r ff.); Meyer 21v.3, 48v, 50r
|
Ox |  Chief Guard:
A
guard in which the hilt of the sword is held by the side of
the head, high enough to protect it, with the point extended slightly down
toward the opponent's face.
-
Ochs: Döbringer 32r; Ringeck 34r; Starhemberg
25v, 37v;
Lew 28r Mair (Vienna) 3v,
19v (= ictus qui dicitur Bos), 48v; Jörg Wilhalm 3711 17r-v
(=3712 112r-v); Meyer 6v, 11v, 36r ff., 56v; right hand:
46r.
|
P | |
Parrying | Defensive
Handwork: the generic term for the use of the blade to defend
against an incoming attack.
-
versetzen; Versatzung: Ringeck 35r ff.; Starhemberg
26r ff.;
Mair (Vienna) 11r (= defensionem); 7v (= defensio seu ensis adversarii exceptio); 12r
(= avertere); 51r (= eludere); 7r, 10v (= excipere); Jörg Wilhalm 3711 24v
(=3712 119v); Meyer 12v, 15r, 22v, 31v, 47r,
50v, 51v, 52v, 53r, 53v, 54v, 55v, 56v, 58r, 59v
|
Parts of the Weapon |
|
Pass step | Footwork: A
step in which the feet change relative positions (i.e., the rear foot becomes the forefoot). |
Pflug | Plow |
Plow |  Chief Guard:
A guard executed with the hilt
next to the hip, the point angled upward at the opponent's face.
-
Pflug: Ringeck 34r, 40r; Starhemberg 25v, 30v, 37v; Lew 28v;
Egenolph 9v; Mair (Vienna) 4r, 11v, 30v, 37r (=aratrus habitus seu castra), 60r;
Jörg Wilhalm 3711 17r-v (=3712 112r-v); Meyer 6v, 53r, 56v, 63v; see also 2:54v for the rapier
version
|
Plunge Cut | Secondary Cut:
A High Cut followed by bringing the sword into the Ox guard. The
maneuver may serve to displace the opponent's blade and then prepare for a
thrust.
-
Sturtzhauw; Sturtz: Döbringer 48r; Talhoffer 1467: 2;
Mair (Vienna) 30r,
39r; Meyer 14v, 36r, 53v.1, 57r; cf. 2:9r. Cf. Gladiatoria 54r
(with judicial combat shield
|
Pommel | Part of the hilt; see Parts of the Weapon. |
Prellhauw | Rebound
Cut |
Pressing the Hands | Slicing Handwork:
A form of slice executed against the opponent's hands or arms.
-
Hande drucken, Hende trucken: Ringeck 46r,
Starhemberg 35v?;
Egenolph 12v; Jörg Wilhalm 3711 35v ff. (=3712 129v ff.); Meyer 21v, 55v
|
Pulling | Deceiving Handwork:
Withdrawing the blade before or after contact by pulling away
with the hilt.
-
zucken: Ringeck 41v; von Danzig 31v;
Mair (Vienna) 7r, 13r, 27r-v
(=retrahere), 36v (= arripere); Meyer 19r, 28v-29v, 34v, 60r
-
verzucken: Mair (Vienna) 78v; Meyer 18v, 30r, 32r, 39v, 60v
|
Q | |
Quillons | Crossbar, part of the
hilt; see Parts of the Weapon. |
R | |
Rebound Cut | Secondary Cut:
A cut delivered doubly using the flat on the first hit to
facilitate the rebound.
|
Remaining | see Binding |
Reversing | Controlling
Handwork: Any technique in which the hand or hands are
inverted relative to their relaxed position; this will of course reverse the
orientation of the sword. In Meyer, this is often done after the swords are
engaged, to turn one's weapon over the opponent's blade, thereby forcing it down
and away.
-
verkehren, -keren: Meyer 19v, 22r, 26v, 48v, 51r, 54r, 54v, 55v,
57r, 59r
-
Verkehrer: Ringeck 30r, 51v; Starhemberg 22r; Egenolph 14r
|
Ringeck, Sigmund | Author
of Liechtenauer commentaries dating from the
second quarter of the 15th century. Other longsword material in
the manuscript seems to be by a different author. |
Rose | Deceiving Handwork:
A maneuver that changes from one quarter around to another,
often as a disengage or evasion, sometimes by force. Each change of
quarter describes one petal of a rose.
-
Rosen: Egenolph 5v, 6r, 9v;
Mair (Vienna) 7v, 12r, 24r (= rosa); Meyer 40v,
41r.3, 42r
|
Rosen | Rose |
Runde | Looping |
Running In | Close-Quarters Handwork:
To close with an opponent in order to grapple or wrestle.
-
einlauffen ("running in"): Talhoffer 1467: 12;
Mair (Vienna) 65v, 86r-v
(= incursio); Meyer 22v, 61r, 62v, 63r; Von Gunterrodt 1579: E3r
-
eingehn ("going in"): Mair (Vienna) 14v
|
Running Off | Deceiving
Handwork: Withdrawing the blade, before or after contact, by rotating it
around the hilt.
-
ablauffen: Egenolph 6r;
Mair (Vienna) 62v (= decurrere); Meyer 18r, 18v,
19v, 27v, 29r (2x), 30v, 31v, 32r, 33r, 35r, 36r, 39v, 47v, 53r, 58r, 60r
|
S | |
Scalp Cut | see High
Cut |
Schieler | Squinter; see Squinting
Cut |
Schielhauw | Squinting
Cut |
Scheitelhauw | Scalp Cut;
see High Cut |
Schilt | Shield, part of the
hilt; see Parts of the Weapon. |
Schlaudern | Slinging |
Schlüssel | Key |
Schnall | Flick |
Schnappen | Snapping; see Flick |
Schneiden | Slicing |
Schneller | Flick |
Schrankhut | Crossed
Guard |
Schweche | Foible |
Secondary Cuts | Attacks: A
range
of cuts mostly delivered with the short edge or flat, including Thwart,
Squinter, Crooked,
and Clashing Cut. |
Secondary Guards | Guards other
than the Chief Guards. The early sources emphasize the
Crossed Guard and
Longpoint / Window, while Meyer uses Wrath and
Longpoint most frequently. |
Setting Off | See Catching
|
Shape of Combat | see Stages of Combat |
Shield | Part of the hilt; see Parts of the Weapon. |
Shooting Over | see
Barring |
Short Cut | Secondary Cut:
A countercut that slips under the opponent's sword to the
opposite side, to block with the forte, and follow up with a thrust.
|
Short edge | The
"back" side of the blade, away from the knuckles. The short edge
is mostly used for counterattacks and followup attacks once
the blades have engaged. See Parts
of the Weapon. |
Side Guard |  Secondary Guard:
A "tail guard" with the hilt near the belly, the sword extending
back by the rear leg, point toward the ground, and the short edge facing the
combatant.
-
Nebenhut: Ringeck 49r; Egenolph 11r, 14r; Meyer 8r, 10r, 40r
(right hand); Cf. Meyer 3:16v (Staff); 3:39r (Halberd); 3:42v (Pike)
|
Slashing | see Cutting
Through |
Slashing Through | see Cutting
Through |
Slicing | Slicing Handwork:
An attack in which the blade is placed against some
part of the opponent's body, and gains its effect not from momentum, but from
pressure and by the potential slicing action of a draw-cut.
-
Schnitt; Schneid (Meyer 38v): Ringeck 33v, 53r;
Starhemberg 19v,
25r, 34v ff.; Talhoffer 1467: 21; Mair (Vienna) 5v ff., 16r, 17r ff., 22v, 44v, 49r, 50r
(= incisio); Jörg Wilhalm 3711 32r ff. (=3712 126r ff.); Meyer 5r, 18r, 21r.1, 21v (2x), 22v, 26v, 34v, 36r, 48v, 55r, 56v,
58r, 59r-60v, 64v
-
schneiden: Mair (Vienna) 24v, 32v (= perstringere), 30r (= stringere), 45r-
v, 46v (= proscindere); Meyer 18r, 34v, 36r, 46r, 50v, 51r, 55v, 59r, 59v
|
Slicing Off | Defensive
Handwork:
A parry that deflects the incoming
attack with a slicing motion of the blade.
|
Sliding | Defensive Handwork:
A version of hanging executed from the Wrath
Guard by sliding the sword under the opponent's incoming attack.
|
Slinging | Miscellaneous Handwork:
A flinging cut delivered from a distance.
|
Snapping | see Flick |
Snapping Around | Deceiving Handwork:
After a cut, to follow up with a flicking cut by rotating around
the hilt.
-
umschnappen: Meyer 19v, 35r, 38r (2x), 42r, 42v, 44r, 48v, 50v,
51v, 53v, 54v, 55v, 57r
|
Sperren | Barring |
Sprechfenster | Speak-Window;
see Window |
Squinting Cut |  Master Cut:
A variant of the High Cut, executed with the short edge. The Squinter
is often used as a countercut, particularly against an incoming High Cut.
-
Schielhauw, Schil-; Schieler: Ringeck 31r;
Starhemberg 23r ff.;
Mair (Vienna) 2v; Jörg Wilhalm 3711 18v ff. (=3712 113v ff.); Meyer 11v, 44r, 47r, 52v-54r; 52v, 55r, 58r: left version; also 53r
(2x)
|
Stages of Combat | The fullest articulation of the stages of combat is given in
Meyer, where each exchange is divided into three phases: the Onset;
the Handwork; and the Withdrawal. |
Stance | The most realistic representations may be those in
Mair, where
the stance is mostly moderate, about 1.5 - 2 shoulder widths, with a moderate bend
in the knees, deeper in the forward than the rear one. |
Starhemberg Fechtbuch | A
fuller text of Liechtenauer commentary preserved
in a manuscript dated 1452 (sometimes called the Von
Danzig Manuscript). |
States of Timing | The tradition distinguishes three states of timing: the Before, when one has the initiative; the After, where one's opponent has
the initiative; and the Instantly, the use of swift countermoves
designed to gain the initiative when the opponent has it. |
Step | see Footwork |
Stepping Out | Defensive
Handwork: Stepping laterally away from an incoming cut.
|
Sterk | Forte |
Stich | Thrust |
Straight Cuts | Attacks:
Cuts delivered
with the long edge, including: High Cut; Wrath
Cut; Middle Cut; and Low
Cut.Throughout the tradition, they are mostly
used in the Onset: they have greater power and reach than the short-edge
cuts, but they also need to be delivered from a wound-up position. |
Streichen | Slashing; see Cutting
Through |
Striking Around | Deceiving Handwork:
To pull away after engagement for a cut in a different place,
usually on the opposite side.
-
umschlagen: Meyer 18r, 26r, 43r, 46r, 49v (2x), 58r, 59v,
60v
|
Stücke | Devices |
Sturtzhauw | Plunge
Cut |
Sutor, Jakob | Author of a brief text of 1612,
in which Meyer's work is excerpted. It may have been the last "new" text on the
longsword to be produced in the German corpus. |
T | |
Tactics | The German longsword tradition consistently recommends being the
first to attack, or, if attacked, to regain the initiative in the fight. One of the core techniques in the longsword system is to deliver
an attack in one quarter, to draw the opponent to defend there, then, either
before or after contact, to pull the blade away for an attack in another quarter, in the
hopes that the opponent has overcommitted to the previous defense. |
Tag, vom Tag(e) | High |
Tag | see Flick |
Tag-Hit | see Flick |
Talhoffer, Hans | Author of a family of
15th century manuscripts with many illustrations and minimal
text, containing unarmored longsword and other material. |
Targets |  The German tradition divides the body into four main targets:
upper left; upper right; lower left; and lower right. Meyer further subdivides the head into
four: down the middle and
across just below the eyes, to make an upper left and upper right, generally
called the scalp, and lower left and lower right, also called the left and right
ear.
|
Thrust | Attacks:
An attack delivered with the point. In the early sources, the
thrust is most often found as a follow-up attack after the initial attack has
been delivered.
-
stich, ort: Mair (Vienna)
(=
mucro) 1r, 10r, 11v, 12r, 13r, 48r
-
einschiessen: Mair (Vienna) (= gladii impulsio) 26r; (= impulsus ensis)
39v, 51r; (= impulsus) 63v
|
Thwart Cut |  Master Cut:
A cut delivered with the hands pointing upward, the right
thumb under the blade, with the short edge and hands uncrossed when done from the
right.
-
Zwerchhauw; Zwirchschlag (Meyer 55v);
Zwerch, Zwirch (Meyer 47v), Zürch, Zürck
(Meyer 33r, 35v): Döbringer 27r-v; Ringeck 27r ff., 52v ff.; Starhemberg 18v ff.;
Egenolph 14v; Mair (Vienna) 2r, 13r, 62r, 66v (= transversarius); Jörg Wilhalm 3711 13r ff. (=3712 108r ff.);
Meyer 12v, 16r, 16v,
21r, 26r, 33r, 33v, 35r, 35v (2x), 36v, 38r, 42v (2x), 43r, 47v, 50v, 53r, 55r
ff., 57r, 58r, 59v, 60v, 61r, 63r, 64r
|
Transmuting | Deceiving Handwork:
To follow up a high attack with a low one
by turning from the bind into a hanging thrust over the opponent's blade.
|
True edge | see Long
edge
|
U | |
Überlauffen | Overrunning |
Überlangen | Overreaching;
see Overrunning |
Übergreiffen | Catching
Over |
Übergreiffen | Gripping
Over |
Überschießen | Crossing
Over; see Barring |
Überschrenken | Crossing
Over; see Barring |
Überzwerch | Horizontal;
see Middle Cut |
Überzwerchhauw | Horizontal
Cut; see Middle Cut |
Umschlagen | Striking
Around |
Umschnappen | Snapping
Around |
Underhauw | Low
Cut |
Unicorn |  Secondary Guard:
A guard so similar to Ox
that the distinction is open to doubt; Unicorn appears to have the hands a bit
higher and the point horizontal or slightly upward.
-
Einhorn, Einkiren: Mair (Vienna)
24r, 33v, 35r-v (=
Monoceros);
Jörg Wilhalm 3711 40v (=3712 134v); Meyer 9r, 37v ff., 54r
|
V | |
Verfliegen | Flitting |
Verführen | Deceiving |
Verkehren | Reversing |
Verschieben | Sliding |
Versetzen | Parrying |
Verstüllen | Blocking |
Verzuchen | Pulling |
Volte step | Footwork:
A steps in which
the rear foot steps behind the forefoot so that the body rotates. |
Vor | Before; see States
of Timing. |
W | |
War | see Handwork |
Wards | see Guards |
Weak bind | An opponent who commits
weakly to a parry is called being "soft" or "weak" in the bind.
The sources recommend using trength (such as winding) against an opponent who is weak in the bind. |
Wechsel | Change |
Wechselhauw | Change
Cut |
Wechseln | Changing |
Winden | Winding |
Windhauw | Winding
Cut |
Winding | Miscellaneous Handwork:
An action in which one remains in the bind while winding one's
blade about the opponent's weapon for a followup attack, typically with the
point, foible and/or short edge .
-
winden, wenden (44r):
Starhemberg 14v ff., 30v, 37v ff.;
Mair (Vienna) 10v, 12r, 23v ff. (= intorsio), 24v (= torqueare), 25r (= inflexio), 39v
(=convertere); Meyer 20v, 22r, 30r, 36r, 36v, 38v, 39v, 40r, 43r-44r, 46r, 48v,
49v, 50r, 50v, 51r, 51v, 54v, 55r, 58r, 59r, 59v, 62r, 63r-63v, 64r; of pommel:
51r, 59r, 64r, 64v
|
Winding Cut | Secondary Cut:
A cut found in 16th century sources, executed by manipulating the blade while
remaining in the bind, winding in between the opponent's blade and head, then
cutting as one comes back out.
|
Winding Through | Miscellaneous Handwork:
A wind executed with the hilt underneath the opponent's weapon,
usually to catch the opponent's arm or weapon.
-
durchwinden: Meyer 14r, 21r, 40r, 50r, 51r, 51v, 61r, 61v,
64r
|
Window |  Secondary Guard:
(1) In Döbringer, Ringeck, and Starhemberg, a
version of Longpoint in which the sword is engaged with the opponent's. (2) In Mair,
a position in which the hands are forward and the point of
the sword up in the air, angling a bit to the right.
-
Brechfenster ("*Break-Window"):
Mair (Vienna) 4r, 12r, 23r (=
fenestra
patula); Meyer 2r, 41r, 42v ff.
-
Sprechfenster
("Speaking-Window," as in a monastery for
communicating with people outside): Döbringer 37v; Ringeck 47r; Starhemberg 36r;
Egenolph 10v; Mair (Vienna) 88r; Jörg Wilhalm 3711 37v (=3712 131v)
|
Wing Cut |  Secondary Cut:
A rising cut with
the hands high.
-
Fliegelhaw: Mair (Vienna)
18r, 20r; Rösener 1589: 51
-
Flügel, Fligel: Egenolph 5r; Mair (Vienna)
27v (= ictus alaris?);
Rösener 1589: 57
|
Withdrawal | Stages
of Combat: The Withdrawal is the stage in which the combatant seeks
to disengage without being hit, often by delivering a cut to cover the retreat. |
Wrath Cut | Straight
Cut and Master Cut: A cut delivered diagonally downwards from above.
-
Zornhauw: Döbringer 23r; Ringeck 19r ff.;
Starhemberg 13r ff.;
Egenolph 13v; Mair (Vienna) 1:1r, 48r, 51v; Jörg Wilhalm 3711 3r ff. (=3712 98r
ff.); Meyer 11r, 11v, 36r
|
Wrath Guard |  Secondary Guard:
A guard in Meyer in which the sword hangs over the rear
shoulder.
-
Zornhut; Zorn: Meyer 7v, 11v, 12v, 16r, 34v ff., 35v; right
version: 35r, 50v; left version: 35v
|
Wrenching | Controlling
Handwork: Refers to any motion of forcing one's opponent's weapon or arms
in some direction.
-
ausreißen: Egenolph 9v; Meyer 22v, 38r, 39v, 43r, 48v, 61v
-
reißen: Mair (Vienna) 7v (= insistere), 9v, 38v (= attrahere), 16v
(= inflectere), 32v (= rumpere), 34v, 36v, 38r, 38v (= vellere); Meyer 50r, 51v,
61v, 62r, 62v
|
Wrist Cut | Secondary Cut:
A quick Thwart Cut delivered at the opponent's exposed hand or arm.
|
X | |
Y | |
Z | |
Zeck | Tag; see Flick |
Zeckrur | Tag-Hit; see Flick |
Zirckel | Circle |
Zornhauw | Wrath
Cut |
Zornhut | Wrath
Guard |
Zuchen | Pulling |
Zufechten | Attack; see Onset |
Zugang | Onset |
Zwerch | Thwart; see Thwart
Cut |
Zwerchhauw | Thwart
Cut |
|
