ˈsword-play
[OE. sweordpleᵹa, f. sword n. + play n.]
1. † a. Fight, battle. OE. b. The action of plying or wielding a sword briskly, as in fencing; the art or practice of fencing.
| a 1000 Waldere 13 (Gr.) Ðy ic ðe ᵹesawe æt ðam sweord⁓pleᵹan..wiᵹ forbuᵹan. 1627 Hakewill Apol. iv. iv. §9. 319 Truly I thinke there is at no time a greater concourse of the people then at the sword-playes. 1647 Stapylton Juvenal 48 When there was any sword-play, or fighting on the stage. 1889 Conan Doyle Micah Clarke 205, I studied sword-play under Signor Cantarini. 1904 Windsor Mag. Jan. 298/2 His sword-play was like flashes of lightning. 1910 E. Castle in Encycl. Brit. X. 250/2 The new [17th century] French sword-play was..very neat,..and..even more deadly than the old fence. |
c. fig. Spirited or skilful controversy or debate.
| 1847 Bunsen Church of Future Pref. p. xxvii, I have not the slightest intention..of involving myself in any literary sword-play. 1902 L. Stephen Stud. Biogr. III. vi. 189 To enjoy the spectacle of intellectual swordplay. |
2. A kind of sword-dance. rare.
| 1882 Elton Origins Eng. Hist. v. 123 If no duel occurred during the meal, the guests were entertained with a sword⁓play. |