tierce noun¹. [tɪǝs, in sense 6c tjɛrs] Also terce [tǝ:s]. See also TERCE. LME.
[Var. of TERCE.]
I. 1. a. = THIRD noun 3. rare. Only in LME.
b. = THIRD noun 2. L15-M17.
2. Hist. A unit of capacity equal to one-third of a pipe, usu. equivalent to 35 gallons (approx. 159 litres); a cask or vessel of this capacity; a cask containing a certain quantity (varying with the goods) of provisions. L15.
3. A band or company of soldiers. Cf. TERCIO 1. L16-M17.
4. Cards. Esp. in piquet, a sequence of three cards of the same suit. Cf. QUINT noun². M17.
tierce major the highest three cards of a suit. tierce minor the lowest three cards of a suit.
5. Fencing. The third of eight recognized parrying positions, defending the upper sword-arm portion of the body, with the sword-hand in pronation; a parry in this position. L17.
quart and tierce: see QUART noun² 1.
6. Music.
a. = THIRD noun 4. Now rare or obsolete. L17.
b. The note two octaves and a major third above a fundamental note; an organ-stop giving tones at this interval above the normal pitch. L17.
c. tierce de Picardie [dǝ pikardi] [French = of Picardy], a major third used instead of a minor in the final chord of a piece in a minor key. E19.

7. Heraldry. A charge composed of three triangles, usu. of different tinctures and arranged in fesse. E19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

tierce
II. See TERCE.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

tiercé adjective. [tjɛrse] E18.
[French, pa. pple of Old & mod. French tiercer divide into three parts.]
Heraldry. Of a field: divided into three equal parts of different tinctures.
Also

■ tierced [tɪǝst] adjective M19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

tiercé noun. ['tjǝ:seɪ, tjɛrse] Also tierce [tɪǝs]. M20.
[formed as TIERCé adjective.]
Esp. in France, a method of betting requiring the first three horses in a race to be named in the correct order; a horse-race at which this method prevails.

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