The right of way convention originated in historical dueling conventions, where mutual impalement meant mutual death. The rule enforced a basic instinct of self-preservation: you cannot strike an enemy while ignoring their steel driving toward your heart. You must defend yourself first.
This dynamic gives fencing terms widespread metaphorical resonance across English literature, courtroom legal battles, and daily crosswords. When debaters parry a difficult question, they deflect scrutiny before launching their own rhetorical point. Crossword editors at The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Washington Post return to these athletic loanwords because they bridge historic sports jargon and daily vernacular effortlessly.
