Category:Tierce

Tierce, n. Etym: [f. tierce a third, from tiers, tierce, third, fr. L. tertius the third; akin to tres three. See third, three, and cf. Terce, tercet, tertiary.]

1. A cask whose content is one third of a pipe; that is, forty-two Wine gallons; also, a liquid measure of forty-two wine, or thirty- Five imperial, gallons.

2. A cask larger than a barrel, and smaller than a hogshead or a Puncheon, in which salt provisions, rice, etc., are packed for Shipment.

3. (mus.)

Defn: the third tone of the scale. See mediant.

4. A sequence of three playing cards of the same suit. Tierce of ace, King, queen, is called tierce-major.

5. (fencing)

Defn: a position in thrusting or parrying in which the wrist and Nails are turned downward.

6. (r. C. Ch.)

Defn: the third hour of the day, or nine a.m.; one of the canonical Hours; also, the service appointed for that hour.

Tierce Tier*cé", a. Etym: [f.] (her.)

Defn: divided into three equal parts of three different tinctures; -- Said of an escutcheon.