Disclaimer: One of the many difficulties in reading Early High German and Middle German is the element of a consonant shift which became apparent through the 1500s. Consonant shifts are an element of linguistic evolution described by Grimm's Law. The German shift was a softener, P became B or F, and T became Z or D.

The shift, in addition to the lack of truly standard spellings and many archaisms, makes the reading, interpreting, and translating of late medieval German rather fun. One must proceed with caution. My work is probably riddled with errors. Corrective feedback is always appreciated.

Even so, I put this list together as an attempt at a small medieval German - modern English fencing dictionary. Some modern German words are included due to their relation to fencing. This list is very incomplete but will probably keep growing.

Note: Updated on Oct. 15, 2002 to include several additions supplied by Keith Myers. Thanks Keith!

Note 2: Updated on Jan. 26, 2003 to include auswendig, einwending, letzer and ebichter, courtesy of Jörg Bellinghausen. Thanks Jörg!

Note 3: Modern German spellings are (in brackets). Words without bracketed equivalents are the same in both medieval and modern German.

abziehen = retreating, withdrawing
ainer (einer) = one
allerley (allerlei) = all sorts of
anbinden = engaging, binding
angriff = attack
aplauffen (ablaufen) = flowing off
apschnyden (abschneiden) = cutting off
apseczen (absetzen) = putting away, setting aside
achsel = shoulder
acht (achten) = respect, heed
als bald = as soon as
apzihen (abziehen) = retreat, withdraw
arbaiten (arbeiten) = work
aufsitzen = stick/adhere to
auswendig = turned outward, quarte

baiden (beiden) = both
bandt (band) = bound, the bind
befleiß = endevour, try
begert = desire, intend
begreiff = grab onto
begreifen = grasp, understand
begriffen = grasping, understanding
behalt = restrain
behend = nimble
bindt (bind) = bind
beschempt = be shamed
beschlossen = locked up
besetzen = taking
besunder (besonder) = special
blöß (bloss) = open target, opening

chümpt (kommt) = comes
czwaÿ (zwei) = two

daren (derein) = therein
darowegen (derwegen) = because of
darnach = afterwards
darwon (darvon) = from there
deren (derein) = therein
dapfer (tapfer) = boldly, bravely
dempffen (dämpfen) = impede, soften
deßgleichen (desgleichen) = likewise
dieweil = meanwhile
dinck (ding) = thing
doplieren = doubling
duplrin (doplieren) = doubling

eben = even, level
ebichter = reversed, inverted, prime
edel (adel) = noble
einfach = single
einfallen = fall upon, attack
einprechen (einbrechen) = break into, defeat
einwendig = turned inward, secunde
elpogen (elbogen) = elbows
entspringen = originate
erheb = raise
erlangen = reaching, attaining

fehlen = missing (feinting)
fintieren = feinting
frawen (frauen) = women (exception is Goliath = joy)
fräwen (freuen) = joy
fröwen (freuen) = joy (can mean both joy and women in Ringeck)
frey (frei) = free
freyen (freien) = free
fues (fuss) = foot
fülen = feeling
furschreitten = stride forward

gebar (gefahr) = danger, beware
geberden (gebärden) = mimicry, faking
gebunden = bound
gedenckenn (gedanken) = considered, thought
gekräuczten (gekreutzen) = crossed
geschehen = happen
geschrenckten (geschränkten) = crossed over, barred, enclosed
gest (gehest) = goes
geparr (gefahr) = beware, danger
gepyndet (gebindet) = bound
gerindt = retained
gevar (gefahr) = beware, danger
gewar (gewär) = be aware of
gewertig (gewärtig) = be ready/prepared for
glefen = lance
glitz (glitsch) = glide, slide
glütz (glitsch) = glide, slide
glitzt (glitscht) = glides, slides
glützt (glitscht) = glides, slides

haist (heisst) = named, known as
hauw (hau) = strike
haw (hau) = strike
hebt = rise (riseth)
hew (hau) = strike
hende (hände) = hands
hert (hart) = hard
hettestu (hetze du) = you rush
hie (hier) = here
hieb = cutting blow, strike
hinweck (hinweg) = away
hÿe (hier) = here
hoden = testes

indem = immediately
indes = just as, immediately
inndes = just as, immediately

jhm (ihm) = him
jn des (indes) = just as, immediately
junck (jung) = young

kehr = turn
klinge = blade
knopff (knopf) = pommel
komp (krump) = arc
krad (gerad) = direct
krig (krieg) = war
krigken (kriegen) = wars, warring
krumme = arc, curve
krump (krumm) = arc, curve, bend
krumphau = arc strike
krumpt (krummt) = arced, bent, crooked
kümen (kommen) = come
kümpt (kommt) = comes
kürczen (kürtzen) = short

leger = stances
lere (lehre) = lesson
letzer = reversed, inverted, tierce
lincke (linke) = left hand side
lincks (links) = left
list = cunning
listiglich = cunningly
lyb (leib) = body

magstu (magst du) = you want (wanteth thou)
maull (maul) = mouth
merck (merk) = mark, notice, take note
mörck (merk) = mark, notice, take note
mutiren (mutieren) = transform

nachreisen = travel after, chase
nachraysen = travel after
neben = near, close
negstn (nächsten) = next
nemlich (nämlich) = namely
nim (nehm) = take
nÿm (nehm) = take

ort = point, place

pas (fass) = trap, hold
pfluegk (pflug) = plough
pistu (bist du) = are you
plösen (blössen) = openings, open targets
plöß (bloss) = bare, opening, open target
prechen (brechen) = breaking
prell = bounce

reisen = moving, travelling
reissen = pulling, wrenching
reyssen = pulling, wrenching
ritter = knight
ritterschafft = knighthood

schaittel (scheitel) = scalp, apex, vertex, high point
schaittelhaw (scheitelhau) = vertex strike
schedel (scheitel) = scalp, apex, vertex, high point
scheitelhauw (scheitelhau) = vertex strike
scheub = shove
schick = put, place, send
schichkh (schick) = put, place, send
schlach (schlag) = whack, hit, slash
schlahen (schlagen) = whacking, hitting, slashing
schil (schiel) = glance
schiler (schieler) = glancer (also schiller)
schilhaw (schielhau) = glancing blow, glance strike, (also schielhauw, schielhieb)
schlaudern (schleudern) = slinging
schnellen = rushing
schnÿd (schneid) = edge
schneiden = cutting
schreiten = stalking, striding
schürpffen (schürfen) = scraping, grazing
sey (sein) = are, being
seytten (seiten) = sides (also sytten)
slag (schlag) = whack, hit, slash
spitz = point, tip
sperzen (sperren) = block, obstruct
starck (stark) = strong
stee (steh) = stand
sterck (stark) = strong
stich = stab
störck (stark) = strong
stoss = thrust
streich = strike
süllen (sollen) = shall
swercz (schwert) = sword
swert (schwert) = sword
schwöch (schwach) = weak
sÿ (sie) = you (thee)

theil (teil) = section, division
theilen (teilen) = dividing, divide
treÿben (treiben) = driving
trifft (trefft) = hit
tringen (dringen) = penetrate, pierce, break through
tritt = step
trybenn (treiben) = driving
twer (zwerch) = athwart, across (see zwerch)
twerh (zwerch) = athwart, across (see zwerch)
twerhau (zwerchhau) = traverse strike, strike athwart (see zwerchhau)

umbschlagen = striking around
umbschnappen = clipping

var (fahr) = drive
vechten (fechten) = fencing
velt (fehlt) = missing, feinting
verfliegen = flying off
verführen = leading on
verker (verkehr) = overturn, flip over, invert
verkehrter = inverted
verporgen (verborgen) = hidden, secret
verseczen (versetzen) = displacing
verschrankte = crossed over, locked, enclosed
versten (verstehen) = understand
vil (viel) = many
volg (folge) = follow
volgest (folgest) = follow, follows
vorkerer = inverter
vortheil = advantage
vyr (vier) = four

waich (weich) = soft, weak
wamest = jerkin, gambeson
wammess = jerkin, gambeson
wammack = jerkin, gambeson
wer (wehr) = weapon
wirff (werf, werfen) = throw
wirret (wirt) = will be

ym (ihm) = him
ÿmb (umb) = around

zedel (zetel) = recital
zetl (zetel) = recital
zhwer (zwerch) = traverse, athwart
zirckel (zirkel) = circle
zoren (zorn) = wrath
zorenhaw (zornhau) = wrathful strike
zornhaw (zornhau) = wrathful strike
zuck = twitch, flit (disengage)
zucken = twitching, flitting (disengaging)
zugleich = at the same time
zwaÿ (zwei) = two
zweierlei = two different things
zweÿfel (zweifel) = twofold
zwerch= athwart, across
zwerchhau = traverse strike, strike athwart
zwirchhaw = traverse strike, strike athwart
zwifach (zweifach) = double
zwischn (zwischen) = between
zwo (zwei) = two
zwyfach (zweifach) = double