Fence

Pronunciation

• IPA: /fÉ›n(t)s/
• Rhymes: -É›ns

Origin

The original meaning is "the act of defending", from Middle French defens (see defence), adopted in the 14th century.

The sense "enclosure" arises in the mid 15th century.

Also from the 15th century is use as a verb in the sense "to enclose with a fence". The generalized sense "to defend, screen, protect" arises ca. 1500. The sense "to fight with swords (rapiers)" is from the 1590s (Shakespeare).

Full definition of fence

Noun

1. A thin, human-constructed barrier which separates two pieces of land or a house perimeter.
• 1865, {}|Horatio Alger}, ,There was a weak place in the fence separating the two inclosures
• 2013-06-08, The new masters and commanders, From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much. Those entering it are greeted by wire fences, walls dating back to colonial times and security posts. For mariners leaving the port after lonely nights on the high seas, the delights of the B52 Night Club and Stallion Pub lie a stumble away.
2. A middleman for transactions of stolen goods.
3. The place whence such a middleman operates.
4. Skill in oral debate.
5. The art or practice of fencing.
• 1599, William Shakespeare, ,I bruised my shin th' other day with playing at sword and dagger with a master of fence
6. A guard or guide on machinery.
7. (figuratively) A barrier, for example an emotional barrier.
• 1980, ABBA, The Winner Takes It AllI was in your armsThinking I belonged thereI figured it made senseBuilding me a fence

Synonyms

• (middleman) pawn
• (place where a middleman operates) pawn shop

Derived terms

Verb

1. (transitive) to enclose, contain or separate by building fence
• ShakespeareO thou wall! ... dive in the earth,
  And fence not Athens.
• Shakespearea sheepcote fenced about with olive trees
• 1856, George A. Smith, ,Here are twenty acres of land, and it is all you can properly farm, unless you have more help than yourself. Now fence and cultivate it, and you can make an abundant living.
2. (transitive) to defend or guard
• MiltonTo fence my ear against thy sorceries.
3. (transitive) to engage in the selling or buying of stolen goods
4. (intransitive, sports) to engage in (the sport) fencing
• 1921, Rafael Sabatini, ,Challenges are flying right and left between these bully-swordsmen, these spadassinicides, and poor devils of the robe who have never learnt to fence with anything but a quill.
5. (intransitive, equestrianism) to jump over a fence

Synonyms

• (to sell or buy stolen goods) pawn