‖ tac-au-tac Fencing.
(takotak)
[F. tac-au-tac, lit. clash for clash, f. tac echoic word.]
In tac-au-tac riposte, the return stroke after parrying with opposition: see quot. 1889 and riposte n. 1.
| [1889 Pollock, etc. Fencing (Badm. Libr.) 75 [The riposte] may be delivered in two ways:..[secondly], quitting the steel after a clean, smart parry... This is called..the riposte du tac-au-tac.] 1907 Daily Chron. 20 Nov. 8/2 The retort was in the nature of the tac-au-tac riposte beloved of the skilled swordsman. |