fence

Etymology

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).

noun

1. A 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
   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. 2013-06-08, “The new masters and commanders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, page 52
2. (informal) Someone who hides or buys and sells stolen goods, a criminal middleman for transactions of stolen goods.
3. (by extension) The place whence such a middleman operates.
4. Skill in oral debate.
5. (obsolete, uncountable) The 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. A guard or guide on machinery.
7. (figurative) A 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 (lyrics and music), “The Winner Takes It All”
8. (computing, programming) A memory barrier.

verb

1. (transitive) To enclose, contain or separate by building fence.
   […] pray you, if you know, Where in the purlieus of this forest stands 1599, William Shakespeare, As You Like It, act IV, scene 3
   […] 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
   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. (transitive) To defend or guard.
   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
   […] 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, lines 937–938, page 58
3. (transitive) To engage in the selling or buying of stolen goods.
4. (intransitive, sports) To engage in the sport of fencing.
   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. (intransitive, equestrianism) To jump over a fence.
6. (intransitive) To conceal the truth by giving equivocal answers; to hedge; to be evasive.
   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