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fencing

[fen-sing]
See more synonyms for fencing on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the art, practice, or sport in which an épée, foil, or saber is used for defense and attack.
  2. a parrying of arguments; avoidance of direct answers: political fencing on important issues.
  3. an enclosure or railing.
  4. fences collectively.
  5. material for fences.

Origin of fencing

1425–75; late Middle English fensing safeguarding, maintenance. See fence, -ing1

fence

[fens]
noun
  1. a barrier enclosing or bordering a field, yard, etc., usually made of posts and wire or wood, used to prevent entrance, to confine, or to mark a boundary.
  2. Informal. a person who receives and disposes of stolen goods.
  3. the place of business of such a person.
  4. the act, practice, art, or sport of fencing.
  5. skill in argument, repartee, etc.
  6. Machinery. a guard or guide, as for regulating the movements of a tool or work.
  7. Carpentry. a slotted guide used especially with a framing square to lay out cuts on rafters and staircase strings.
  8. Archaic. a means of defense; a bulwark.
verb (used with object), fenced, fenc·ing.
  1. to enclose by some barrier, establishing exclusive right to possession: to fence a farm.
  2. to separate by or as by a fence or fences (often followed by in, off, out, etc.): to fence off a corner of one's yard; to fence out unwholesome influences.
  3. to defend; protect; guard: The president was fenced by bodyguards wherever he went.
  4. to ward off; keep out.
  5. Informal. to sell (stolen goods) to a fence.
  6. Nautical. to reinforce (an opening in a sail or the like) by sewing on a grommet or other device.
verb (used without object), fenced, fenc·ing.
  1. to practice the art or sport of fencing.
  2. to parry arguments; strive to avoid giving direct answers; hedge: The mayor fenced when asked if he would run again.
  3. (of a horse) to leap over a fence.
  4. Obsolete. to raise a defense.
Idioms
  1. mend one's fences, to strengthen or reestablish one's position by conciliation or negotiation: One could tell by his superficially deferential manner that he was trying to mend his fences.
  2. on the fence, uncommitted; neutral; undecided: The party leaders are still on the fence.

Origin of fence

1300–50; Middle English fens, aphetic for defens defense
Related formsfence·like, adjectiveout·fence, verb (used with object), out·fenced, out·fenc·ing.re·fence, verb (used with object), re·fenced, re·fenc·ing.un·fence, verb (used with object), un·fenced, un·fenc·ing.well-fenced, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for fencing

swordplay

Examples from the Web for fencing

Contemporary Examples of fencing

Historical Examples of fencing

British Dictionary definitions for fencing

fencing

noun
  1. the practice, art, or sport of fighting with swords, esp the sport of using foils, épées, or sabres under a set of rules to score points
    1. wire, stakes, etc, used as fences
    2. fences collectively
  3. skilful or witty debate
  4. the avoidance of direct answers; evasiveness
  5. slang the business of buying and selling stolen property

fence

noun
  1. a structure that serves to enclose an area such as a garden or field, usually made of posts of timber, concrete, or metal connected by wire, netting, rails, or boards
  2. slang a dealer in stolen property
  3. an obstacle for a horse to jump in steeplechasing or showjumping
  4. machinery a guard or guide, esp in a circular saw or plane
  5. a projection usually fitted to the top surface of a sweptback aircraft wing to prevent movement of the airflow towards the wing tips
  6. mend one's fences
    1. mainly US and Canadianto restore a position or reputation that has been damaged, esp in politics
    2. to re-establish friendly relations (with someone)
  7. on the fence unable or unwilling to commit oneself
  8. over the fence Australian and NZ informal unreasonable, unfair, or unjust
  9. sit on the fence to be unable or unwilling to commit oneself
verb
  1. (tr) to construct a fence on or around (a piece of land, etc)
  2. (tr; foll by in or off) to close (in) or separate (off) with or as if with a fencehe fenced in the livestock
  3. (intr) to fight using swords or foils
  4. (intr) to evade a question or argument, esp by quibbling over minor points
  5. (intr) to engage in skilful or witty debate, repartee, etc
  6. (intr) slang to receive stolen property
  7. (tr) archaic to ward off or keep out
Derived Formsfenceless, adjectivefencelike, adjective

Word Origin for fence

C14 fens, shortened from defens defence
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for fencing
n.

mid-15c., "defending, act of protecting;" 1580s in the sword-fighting sense; noun from present participle of fence (v.). In spite of the re-enactment in 1285 of the Assize of Arms of 1181, fencing was regarded as unlawful in England. The keeping of fencing schools was forbidden in the City of London, "as fools who delight in mischief do learn to fence with buckler, and thereby are encouraged in their follies." Meaning "putting up fences" is from 1620s; that of "an enclosure" is from 1580s; meaning "receiving stolen goods" is from 1851 (see fence (n.)); meaning "materials for an enclosure" is from 1856.

fence

n.

early 14c., "action of defending," shortening of defens (see defense). Spelling alternated between -c- and -s- in Middle English. Sense of "enclosure" is first recorded mid-15c. on notion of "that which serves as a defense." Sense of "dealer in stolen goods" is thieves' slang, first attested c.1700, from notion of such transactions taking place under defense of secrecy. To be figuratively on the fence "uncommitted" is from 1828, perhaps from the notion of spectators at a fight, or a simple literal image: "A man sitting on the top of a fence, can jump down on either side with equal facility." [Bartlett, "Dictionary of Americanisms," 1848].

fence

v.

mid-15c., "surround with a fence;" c.1500, "defend, screen, protect;" 1590s, "fight with swords;" the last from the noun in this sense (1530s); see fence (n.). Related: Fenced, fencing.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with fencing

fence

In addition to the idioms beginning with fence

  • fence in
  • fence with

also see:

  • mend one's fences
  • on the fence
  • straddle the fence
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.