Emily Dickinson Lexicon

TIERCE, n.¹ [ters; Fr. from tiers, third.]

1. A cask whose content is one third of a pipe, that is, forty gallons; or it may be the measure.
2. In Ireland, a weight by which provisions are sold. The tierce of beef for the navy, is 304 lb. and for India, 336 lb.
3. In music, a third.
4. In gaming, a sequence of three cards of the same color.
5. A thrust in fencing.