tierce
/tɪrs/
noun
- A unit of liquid volume equal to one third of a pipe (about 42 gallons or 159 liters), used especially for wine.
- The old cellar had several tierces of port lined against the wall.
- He ordered a tierce of sherry for the celebration.
- The winery stored the vintage in a single tierce for aging.
- A sequence of three cards of the same suit in card games, especially piquet.
- He was hoping for a tierce to complete his run.
- In piquet, a tierce is worth three points.
- She won the hand with a tierce of hearts.
- The third of the seven canonical hours, or the service held at that time (about 9 a.m.).
- The bell rang for tierce, calling everyone to prayer.
- The monks gathered for tierce just after breakfast.
- Tierce is one of the lesser hours in the Divine Office.