EPEE /AY.pay or EP.ay/ n. a sword used for dueling and fencing

A few words you’re likely to see in the same crossword clues as the epee include the FOIL and SABER/SABRE (the other two common swords used in fencing), the RAPIER (a cousin of these swords used for thrusting attacks), and the PISTE (the strip of ground on which a fencing competition takes place; pronounced /peest/).

In rare situations you might even encounter the PASSADO (a forward thrust movement) or the FLEURET (an alternative name for the foil).

Although the epee will usually be clued in a straightforward way (once you’ve learned the above lingo of course), some of the more playful clues I’ve encountered include…

• It serves a duel purpose
• Pointless event
• Foil cousin
• It may be waved at the Olympics
• Passado poker

Of course, it always helps being told the answer in advance ;-)

If you see an epee on the board in a game of Scrabble or Words With Friends, don’t hesitate to capitalize on the front hook opportunity of TEPEE (a conical shaped Native American tent), which can also be spelled TEEPEE or TIPI.

And don’t forget that the person actually doing the fencing can garner you an easy 50 points too; the fencer is called an EPEEIST!