The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Parry \Par"ry\ (p[a^]r"r[y^]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Parried
   (p[a^]r"r[e^]d); p. pr. & vb. n. Parrying.] [F. par['e], p.
   p. of parer. See Pare, v. t.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To ward off; to stop, or to turn aside; as, to parry a
      thrust, a blow, or anything that means or threatens harm.
      --Locke.
      [1913 Webster]

            Vice parries wide
            The undreaded volley with a sword of straw.
                                                  --Cowper.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To avoid; to shift or put off; to evade.
      [1913 Webster]

            The French government has parried the payment of our
            claims.                               --E. Everett.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

parry \par"ry\, v. i.
   To ward off, evade, or turn aside something, as a blow,
   argument, etc. --Locke.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

parry \par"ry\, n.; pl. Parries.
   A warding off of a thrust or blow, as in sword and bayonet
   exercises or in boxing; hence, figuratively, a defensive
   movement in debate or other intellectual encounter.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

parry
    n 1: (fencing) blocking a lunge or deflecting it with a circular
         motion of the sword
    2: a return punch (especially by a boxer) [syn: counterpunch,
       parry, counter]
    v 1: impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball); "block an
         attack" [syn: parry, block, deflect]
    2: avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing
       (duties, questions, or issues); "He dodged the issue"; "she
       skirted the problem"; "They tend to evade their
       responsibilities"; "he evaded the questions skillfully" [syn:
       hedge, fudge, evade, put off, circumvent, parry,
       elude, skirt, dodge, duck, sidestep]