scherma

fencing (sport)

noun SKER-mah Rare

Origin: From Old High German skirman (to protect), via medieval Italian.

Usage Note

Scherma is the sport of fencing with sword, foil, or sabre. It is always singular and feminine — la scherma. A fencer is schermidore (m) / schermidrice (f). Italy is historically one of the top nations in Olympic fencing.

Examples

"Pratica la scherma da quando aveva dieci anni."

Natural Translation

She has been practising fencing since she was ten.

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