Link Centre Dictionary

fence

UK/fɛns/ US/fɛns/ common informal
noun (2) verb (5)

noun

1.

a barrier that serves to enclose an area

Synonyms
2.

verb

1.

enclose with a fence

  • “we fenced in our yard”
Synonyms
2.
3.

fight with fencing swords

4.
5.

Origin

From Middle English fence, fens, short for defence, defens (“the act of defending”), from Old French defens, defense (see defence). 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). Displaced native Old English heġe (compare Modern English hedge).

Phrases

  • Belgian fence
  • brush fence
  • buck fence
  • Chesterton's fence
  • code fence
  • cyclone fence
  • dingo fence
  • drop fence
  • fence in

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

See also

Parts

Entails

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.