corps-a-corps
English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Unadapted borrowing from French corps-à-corps (literally “body to body”). Compare corps, corpse, corpus.
Noun
[edit]corps-a-corps
- (fencing) The action of two fencers coming into physical contact with one another with any portion of their bodies or hilts.
Usage notes
[edit]- While physical contact is illegal in foil and sabre bouts, in epee fencing contact between fencers can be made as long as it doesn't include force (intentional or not).