spite fence

noun

1. a wall or fence erected solely to annoy one's neighbor or lower the value of their property.

Word History and Origins

Origin of spite fence¹

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

And has he mellowed in old age?—for the spite fence is torn down!

From Project Gutenberg

It came to be called the spite fence.

From New York Times

State, Justice and Defense Department officials worked up the reprisal that, with White House approval, was put into effect last week�a sort of spite fence around some 400 Soviet citizens in the U.S.

From Time Magazine Archive

He got some idea 21 years ago when his neighbor in Scarsdale built a 6-ft. spite fence between their houses.

From Time Magazine Archive

An undertaker who owned a small house in the same block refused to sell it; Crocker built a spite fence 40 feet high, completely enclosing his neighbor's home.

From Time Magazine Archive