Feint

Feint

Feint is a French term that entered English from the discipline of fencing.[citation needed] Feints are maneuvers designed to distract or mislead, done by giving the impression that a certain maneuver will take place, while in fact another, or even none, will. In military tactics and many types of combat, there are two types of feints: feint attacks and feint retreats.

Attacks

A feint attack is designed to draw defensive action towards the point under assault. It is usually used as a diversion to force the enemy to concentrate more manpower in a given area so that the opposing force in another area is weaker. Unlike a related diversionary maneuver, the demonstration, a feint involves actual contact with the enemy.

Retreats

A feint retreat is performed by briefly engaging the enemy, then retreating. It is intended to draw the enemy pursuit into a prepared ambush, or to cause disarray. For example, the Battle of Hastings was lost when Saxons pursued the Norman cavalry. This forfeited the advantage of height and the line was broken, providing the opportunity to fight in single handed combat on a neutral vantage point, a battle for which the Saxons were not ready. The Parthian shot is another example of a feint retreat, where mounted Parthian archers would retreat from a battle and then, while still riding, turn their bodies back to shoot at the pursuing enemy.

See also

  • Kizeme, similar concept in Japanese swordsmanship

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  • feint — feint …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • Feint — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda «Feint» Sencillo de Epica del álbum The Phantom Agony Publicación 8 de Junio de 2003 Formato Cd …   Wikipedia Español

  • Feint — Feint, n. [F. feinte, fr. feint. See {Feint}, a.] 1. That which is feigned; an assumed or false appearance; a pretense; a stratagem; a fetch. [1913 Webster] Courtley s letter is but a feint to get off. Spectator. [1913 Webster] 2. A mock blow or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Feint — Feint, a. [F. feint, p. p. of feindre to feign. See {Feign}.] Feigned; counterfeit. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Dressed up into any feint appearance of it. Locke. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • feint — feint, feinte [ fɛ̃, fɛ̃t ] adj. • XIIe; de feindre 1 ♦ Vx Qui est inventé de toutes pièces. ⇒ 1. faux, imaginaire. « Par de feintes raisons je m en vais l abuser » (Racine). 2 ♦ Mod. Qui n est pas véritable, sincère, et vise généralement à… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Feint — Feint, v. i. To make a feint, or mock attack. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • feint — (n.) 1670s, from Fr. feinte a feint, sham, abstract noun from O.Fr. feint (13c.) false, deceitful, originally fem. pp. of feindre (see FEIGN (Cf. feign)). Borrowed late 13c. as adj., but now obsolete in that sense. The verb is from early 14c.,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • feint — Feint, [f]einte. part. Il a les significations de son verbe actif. Un mal feint. une amitié feinte. une histoire feinte. Il est aussi Adjectif, & signifie Qui dit, qui tesmoigne le contraire de ce qu il pense, & se joint presque tousjours avec… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • feint — Ⅰ. feint [1] ► NOUN ▪ a deceptive or pretended attacking movement, especially in boxing or fencing. ► VERB ▪ make a feint. ORIGIN French feinte, from feindre feign . Ⅱ. feint [2] …   English terms dictionary

  • feint — feint, einte (fin, fin t ) part. passé de feindre. 1°   Qui se fait, se produit pour tromper. Sa foi est feinte. •   Le fer étincelant, avec art détourné, Par de feints mouvements trompe l oeil étonné, VOLT. Henr. X.. 2°   Qui n est pas véritable …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

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