Noah Webster
Parry
PAR'RY, verb transitive
1. In fencing, to ward off; to stop or to put or turn by; as, to parry a thrust.
2. To ward off; to turn aside; to prevent a blow from taking effect.
3. To avoid; to shift off.
The French government has parried the payment of our claims.
PAR'RY, verb intransitive To ward off; to put by thrusts or strokes; to fence.