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Entry 4 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Parry

/(păr"ry̆)/ · Par·ry · IPA /ˈpæɹ.i/
01 v. t. To ward off; to stop, or to turn aside; as, to parry a thrust, a blow, or anything that means or threatens harm.
imp. & p. p. Parried; p. pr. & vb. n. Parrying
  1. 1.
    To ward off; to stop, or to turn aside; as, to parry a thrust, a blow, or anything that means or threatens harm.
    “Vice parries wide The undreaded volley with a sword of straw.” — Cowper.
  2. 2.
    To avoid; to shift or put off; to evade.
    “The French government has parried the payment of our claims.” — E. Everett.
02 v. i. To ward off, evade, or turn aside something, as a blow, argument, etc.
  1. 1.
    To ward off, evade, or turn aside something, as a blow, argument, etc.
03 n. A warding off of a thrust or blow, as in sword and bayonet exercises or in boxing; hence, figuratively, a defensive movement in debate or o…
pl. Parries
  1. 1.
    A warding off of a thrust or blow, as in sword and bayonet exercises or in boxing; hence, figuratively, a defensive movement in debate or other intellectual encounter.