feint

Etymology 1

The noun is borrowed from French feinte (“dummy, feint”), from feindre (“to fake, feign”), from Old French feindre, faindre, from Latin fingere, the present active infinitive of fingō (“to alter the truth to deceive, dissemble, feign, pretend; to fashion, form, shape”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeyǵʰ- (“to form, shape; to knead”). The verb is derived from the noun. cognates * Italian finta * Occitan fencha, fenha * Old Spanish finta (modern Spanish finta (“dummy, feint”))

noun

1. (often military) A movement made to confuse an opponent; a dummy.
   Nothing could be more uncertain than the intentions of the French marshal André Masséna], and Lord Wellington Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington] felt, that by an incautious movement, his army must be seriously committed—Massena's retreat might only be a feint to draw the allies from their position—while by turning Monte Junta, he might make a sudden rush on Torres Vedras. 1840, W[illiam] H[amilton] Maxwell, chapter XIV, in Life of Field-Marshal His Grace the Duke of Wellington,[…], volume II, London: A[lfred] H. Baily & Co.[…], →OCLC, page 222
2. (boxing, fencing) A blow, thrust, or other offensive movement resembling an attack on some part of the body, intended to distract from a real attack on another part.
   It is also possible to deliver a compound riposte by using an indirect feint. The attacking fencer would be open to a compound riposte following a successful parry by their opponent. 1999, Allan Skipp, “Key Techniques”, in Handbook of Foil Fencing, Armley, Leeds: Coachwise Business Solutions for British Fencing, published 2006, page 36
3. (figurative) Something feigned; a false or pretend appearance; a pretence or stratagem.
   Toleration was just a feint to achieve the objective of the Catholic mission. 2014, Alastair J. Mann, James VII: Duke and King of Scots, Edinburgh: John Donald Publishers

verb

1. (transitive, boxing, fencing)
   1. To direct (a blow, thrust, or other offensive movement resembling an attack) on some part of the body, intended to distract from a real attack on another part.
      Genevra scowled and said, "His word is wild, / But dastard treason feinteth such disorders: / Treason or witchcraft neither, undefiled, / A Christian court may cherish in its borders." A figurative use. 1882, T. Alderson Wilson, “Lanval”, in Perseus and Other Essays in Verse, London: Ranken and Co.,[…], →OCLC, page 74
   2. (rare) To direct a feint or mock attack against (someone).
2. (intransitive, boxing, fencing, also often military) To make a feint or mock attack.
   Gomez feinted with his knife and the other man darted backward. He feinted again and the man moved to the side. The man feinted but Gomez didn't budge; he was anxious to get it on. 1984, Len Levinson, chapter 3, in Meat Grinder Hill (The Rat Bastards; 4), [San Francisco, Calif.]: AudioGO, published 2013

Etymology 2

Borrowed from French feint, the past participle of feindre (“to fake, feign”): see etymology 1.

adj

1. (boxing, fencing, also often military) Of an attack or offensive movement: directed toward a different part from the intended strike.
2. (obsolete) Feigned, counterfeit, fake.

Etymology 3

A variant of faint (“barely perceptible; not bright, loud, or sharp”).

adj

1. Of lines printed on paper as a handwriting guide: not bold; faint, light; also, of such paper: ruled with faint lines of this sort.