Only the truly devoted eventually managed to piece together the real definitions of the words that the veterans so casually tossed aside. For example, many just take it for granted that the term "piste" refers to the strip on which one fences. However, nothing could be farther from the truth. In the spirit of freedom of information, I'll try to dash those years of tradition here, and present the naked true definitions for fencing terminology gleaned from careful espionage, and outright bribery. Revel in the knowledge of the elite, and use them as they were meant to be used.
Dry fencing: fencing without drinking
Engagement: What your fiancee breaks, when they realize all you care about is fencing Envelopment: What fencing does to people who just want to "try it once"
Feint: What a fencer does after they get their credit card bill from a tournament weekend
Fencing Time: Usually lost in equipment down time, tournament waiting time...
FIE: A curse given in old english. Fleche: Is all bruised after a few bouts.
Foible: The mistake you make that lets your opponent get a hit.
Foil: What you are trying to do to your opponent
Forte: The cost of a new body wire
French Grip: The fencers secret handshake
Guard: What you have to do at tournaments so your teamates don't "borrow" all your food.
Lamé: Fencers term for a non-fencer
Passé: All those other sports you tried before fencing
Phrase: When fencers manage to string more words together than grunting mono-sylabically
Piste: How you feel when your expensive equipment starts failing
Pistol Grip: What you want to grab when you loose a 14-14 D.E. on a questionable call
Plaqué: What you get between your teeth if you don't brush
Pommel: What you'd REALLY like to do to some opponents
Principle of Defence: The grass is always greener on the other side
Quarte: A measure of liquid (ie: A quarte of milk)
Right-of-way: That driving law you may need to ignore to get to a tournament on time
Second Intention: What you need to come up with when your attack fails miserably
One of the most daunting aspects of fencing for the absolute newbie, seems to be the impressive fencing vocabulary. From obscure french names for attacks, to obscure slurred names for whatever the sabre team seems to be drinking, the fencing world has a vast and mystifying lexicon. Of course to simply give away the real meaning for such gems of the language, would be a sin worthy of death, or the even higher fencing penalty of forcing one to be the driver to and from a tournament. So, elaborate illusionary definitions for such words have been created to avert the casually interested.