par•ry
  Pronunciation: (par'ē), [key]    — v., n., pl. -ried, -ry•ing, -ries. 
  
 
—v.t. - to ward off (a thrust, stroke, weapon, etc.), as in fencing; avert.  
- to turn aside; evade or dodge: to parry an embarrassing question. 
 
—v.i. - to parry a thrust, blow, etc.  
 
—n. - an act or instance of parrying, as in fencing.  
- a defensive movement in fencing.  
 
Par•ry
  Pronunciation: (par'ē), [key]    — n. 
  - 1790–1855, English arctic explorer.  
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.