Fencing swords – NYT Mini Crossword clue answer and hints (May 15)

I know next to nothing about fencing. It looks like a lot of fun to play, but it’s not exactly fun to watch. I sometimes watch snippets of it at the Olympics, though I never stay for long before switching over to volleyball or something. So, what are fencing swords called? You know, the pointy ones. Read on for some hints (and the answer) for today’s New York Times Mini crossword.

Fencing swords – NYT Mini Crossword hints

• Hint 1: It starts with the letter “E.”
• Hint 2: Derives from Latin spatha.
• Hint 3: French word.
• Hint 4: The largest and heaviest of the three types of swords used in fencing.

Fencing swords – NYT Mini Crossword answer

Still struggling? I don’t blame you. The answer to one down in the May 15 NYT Mini Crossword is “EPEES.”

I know, right? I feel like this is the sort of thing you know or you don’t know. There are apparently three types of swords used in fencing: foil, sabre, and épée. The answer to this clue is known as the heaviest of the three, a thrusting weapon with a stiff blade. I certainly wouldn’t want to get stabbed by one of these by an angry Frenchman on a night out in Paris—or anyone, for that matter.

All May 15 NYT Mini Crossword clues and answers

Need help with the other April 15 NYT Mini Crossword clues? We have all the answers.

Across

• 1A Direction opposite of WSW — ENE
• 4A Shoot out, as lava from a volcano — SPEW
• 5A “In what place?” — WHERE
• 6A Plants you didn’t plant, perhaps — WEEDS
• 7A Like Mini crosswords … and a phonetic description of this puzzle— EASY

Down

• 1D Fencing swords — EPEES
• 2D Prone to geeking out — NERDY
• 3D Farm animals that sound like vowels not seen in this puzzle?— EWES
• 4D Stadium at which the Beatles performed an iconic 1965 concer— SHEA
• 5D Org. for Hulk Hogan and John Cena) — WWE