epee
UK[ˈepeɪ]US[eɪˈpeɪ]
n
a sharp-pointed dueling sword, heavier than a foil, used in the sport of fencing.
Etymology
The word 'epee' entered English in the late 19th century directly from French 'épée', meaning 'sword'. The French term itself evolved from the Latin 'spatha', which denoted a broad, flat sword or tool, a borrowing from the Greek 'spathē' meaning a broad blade. This Greek term can be traced back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to stretch, to pull', likely referring to the length of the blade. The specific sporting sense in English reflects the specialization of the term for a particular type of fencing weapon, distinguishing it from the foil and the sabre.
Analysis
The word is a direct loanword from French, adopted as a single lexical unit. It is not productively segmented using English morphemes.
Examples
The fencer selected an epee for the final match.
Her technique with the epee is both precise and powerful.
Modern epee blades are made from flexible steel.