fence

A fence (barrier)

Meanings

Noun

Verb

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Origin

  • From Middle English fence, fens, short for defence, defens, 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).

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