fence

plural fences

1. countableuncountableA thin artificial barrier that separates two pieces of land or forms a perimeter enclosing the lands of a house, building, etc.

   There was a weak place in the fence separating the two inclosures

   1865, Horatio Alger, chapter 17, in Paul Prescott's Charge

   1 more example

   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.

   2013 June 8, “The new masters and commanders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, archived from the original on 17 Aug 2013, page 52

2. countableinformaluncountableSomeone who hides or buys and sells stolen goods, a criminal middleman for transactions of stolen goods.

   The Finn was a fence, a trafficker in stolen goods, primarily in software. In the course of this business, he sometimes came into contact with other fences, some of whom dealt in the more traditional articles of the trade.

   1984, William Gibson, Neuromancer (Sprawl; book 1), New York, N.Y.: Ace Books, →ISBN, page 73

   1 more example

   The Bat—they called him the Bat.[…]. He'd never been in stir, the bulls had never mugged him, he didn't run with a mob, he played a lone hand, and fenced his stuff so that even the fence couldn't swear he knew his face.

   1920, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Avery Hopwood, chapter I, in The Bat: A Novel from the Play (Dell Book; 241), New York, N.Y.: Dell Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 01

   Synonyms: fencer

3. broadlycountableuncountableThe place whence such a middleman operates.
4. countableuncountableSkill in oral debate.
5. obsoleteuncountableThe art or practice of fencing.

   I bruised my shin th' other day with playing at sword and dagger with a master of fence

   1599, William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor

6. countableuncountableA guard or guide on machinery.
7. countablefigurativelyuncountableA barrier, for example an emotional barrier.

   I was in your arms Thinking I belonged there I figured it made sense Building me a fence

   1980, ABBA, “The Winner Takes It All”

8. JewishcountableuncountablelawA prohibition enacted to prevent violation of another more primary rule.

   For quite other reasons Jewish religious authorities, too, restricted the size of the orchestra. They sought to erect a "fence" against hilarity and gaiety, out of respect for their ever remembered "Destruction."

   1929, Abraham Zevi Idelsohn, Jewish Music: Its Historical Development, page 456

9. countableuncountablecomputingA memory barrier.
10. countableuncountableball gamesThe boundary.

present singular third person fences · participle present fencing · participle past fenced · past fenced

1. transitiveTo enclose, contain or separate by building fence.

   […] O thou wall, That girdlest in those wolves, dive in the earth, And fence not Athens.

   1607, William Shakespeare, Timon of Athens, act IV, scene 1

   2 more examples

   […] pray you, if you know, Where in the purlieus of this forest stands A sheep-cote fenc’d about with olive trees?

   1599, William Shakespeare, As You Like It, act IV, scene 3

   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.

   1856, George A. Smith, The Saints Should Divest Themselves of Old Traditions

2. transitiveTo defend or guard.

   […] I have learn’t To fence my ear against thy sorceries.

   1671, John Milton, Paradise Regain’d […] to which is added Samson Agonistes, London: John Starkey, Samson Agonistes, page 58, lines 937–938

   1 more example

   Cosin, our hands I hope shall fence our heads, And strike off his that makes you threaten vs.

   1594, Christopher Marlowe, Edward II, London: William Jones

3. transitiveTo engage in the selling or buying of stolen goods.

   The Bat—they called him the Bat.[…]. He'd never been in stir, the bulls had never mugged him, he didn't run with a mob, he played a lone hand, and fenced his stuff so that even the fence couldn't swear he knew his face.

   1920, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Avery Hopwood, chapter I, in The Bat: A Novel from the Play (Dell Book; 241), New York, N.Y.: Dell Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 01

   Synonyms: pawn

4. ambitransitivehobbiesTo engage in the sport of fencing (against).

   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.

   1921, Rafael Sabatini, Scaramouche

5. intransitiveequestrianismTo jump over a fence.
6. intransitiveTo conceal the truth by giving equivocal answers; to hedge; to be evasive.

   You only give me ten minutes. If I am to put my case before you, Mr Carrados, we cannot fence with phrases...

   1914, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados

   1 more example

   A lady, sir, as you will find, / Keeps counsel, or she speaks her mind, / Means what she says and scorns to fence / And palter with feigned innocence.

   1981, A. D. Hope, “His Coy Mistress to Mr. Marvell”, in A Book of Answers