Malparry

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Malparry (or malparre, literally "bad parry") is a fencing expression for a parry that contacts an attacker's blade, yet fails to prevent it from landing a touch.

Rules for foil and sabre require the defender to deflect the opponent's blade, even if only momentarily. Even a light tap can be sufficient, so long as the blade contact is not a "mere grazing". The concept of malparry does not exist in épée fencing.

In practice, most properly made parries, even very light ones, are sufficient to deflect an attack. Studies with high-speed photography show that even light parries deflect the attacker's blade at least momentarily. Frequently the attacker makes a renewed offensive action with the weapon, but this is a new attack (called a remise, reprise, or redoublement). A malparry usually occurs when the parry is made too late, and the attacker's blade is already landing on target (sometimes informally called "through steel"), or the parrying blade is not properly positioned to "close the line" (cover the target).

This expression is generally only used to explain a fencing action. For example:

“Referee/director: "Attack from the left arrives. Touch right. Point left."
Fencer on the right: "But sir, didn't you see my parry?"
Referee/director: "No, it was a malparry."”