BEAT, in fencing, denotes a blow or stroke given with the sword. There are two kinds of beats; the first performed with the foible of a man's sword on the foible of his adversary's, which in the schools is commonly called batterie, from the French battre, and is chiefly used in a pursuit, to make an open upon the adversary. The second and best kind of beat is performed with the forte of a man's sword upon the foible of his adversary's, not with a spring, as in binding, but with a jerk or dry beat; and is therefore most proper for the parades without or within the sword, because of the rebound a man's sword thereby has from his adversary's, which procures him a better and surer opportunity of risposting.