Also 5–6 fens(e. [f. the sb.]
1. intr. a. To practise the use of the foil or sword. b. To use the sword scientifically either for offence or defence.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., II. iii. 14. Rug. Alas sir, I cannot fence!
1684. R. H., School Recreat., 57. A Guard. This is the proper Posture you must place you[r] self in, for the better defending your self from the Thrusts or Blows of those you Fence with, or defend your self from.
1737. Fielding, Hist. Reg., III. Wks. 1882, X. 225. 1st Play. I do a warrior! I never learnt to fence.
1779. Sheridan, Critic, III. Wks. 1873, II. 181.
| Whisk. O cursed parry!—that last thrust in tierce | |
| Was fatal.—Captain, thou hast fenced well! |
1829. Lytton, Disowned, 147. I hope you both fence and shoot well.
c. transf. of animals.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 343. They [bellowing rivals] fence, they push, and pushing loudly roar.
d. fig. Frequently of a witness: To fence with (rarely trans. to fence), to parry, try to evade (a question).
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., III. vi. (1845), 158. Though now and then he seem very Vehemently to declaim against Vices, yet one may easily enough perceive that ’tis but a personated Anger, and that he rather fences with Sin, than is concern’d to Destroy it, and speak against it rather to shew Skill, than to exercise Hatred.
1677. Yarranton, Eng. Improv., 9. The Friends of the Wife Trump up a former Title to the two Mortgages, and fence to get all the Estate that Sheriff, Bayliffs, Sollicitors, and Lawyers leave.
1855. Motley, Dutch Rep. (1864), I. 151. For several months … diplomatists fenced among themselves.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., VI. XX. iii. 47. Seldom in the Arena of this Universe did a Son of Adam fence better for himself.
1880. Kinglake, Crimea, VI. v. 175. The gallant French … could only fence with an evil so great.
1887. Jessopp, Arcady, vi. 181. That question he seemed disposed to fence with, and I at once refrained from pressing it.
1800. Standard, 22 Feb., 5/2. The Chairman … ought … to be able to overcome the tendency to ‘fence’ awkward questions.
2. trans. (Const. against, from.) To screen, shield, protect: a. the body, or a part of it.
1549. Olde, Erasm. Par. 2 Cor. vi. 7. On euery syde surely fensed with the armoure of iustice.
1581. Mulcaster, Positions, xxvii. (1887), 106. The arme in this [armeball] is fensed with a wooden brace, as the shin in the other with some other thing for meeting with a shrew.
1586. A. Day, The English Secretary (1625), 139. His pined corps, whom furres must fence from the least blast of cold.
1611. Bible, 2 Sam. xxiii. 7. But the man that shal touch them, must be fenced with yron, and the staffe of a speare, and they shall bee vtterly burnt with fire in the same place.
1650. Fuller, A Pisgah-sight of Palestine, I. v. 11. All fishes in armour fenced with shels, recounted amongst the dainties of our diet, were prohibited unto them.
1691. Ray, Creation, II. (1704), 378. The extremities of their Toes were fenc’d with Hoofs.
1826. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. II. (1863), 249. Running down the street with an umbrella and her clogs, to fence their lodger, Mrs. Hay, from the ill effects of a summer shower.
1876. Blackmore, Cripps, v. (1877), 27. With one hand fencing her forehead.
b. a building, locality, esp. from weather or wind.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 12 b. I lay my corne upon a fayre floore, closely fenced and seeled against Mise.
1600. Hakluyt, Voy. (1810), III. 360. We rode at anker in a place well fenced from the wind.
1650. Fuller, A Pisgah-sight of Palestine, II. 60. The river [Jordan] is fenced by its own breadth and depth against all Passengers.
1705. Addison, Italy, 7.
| The winding Rocks a spacious Harbour frame, | |
| That from the great Alcides takes its Name: | |
| Fenc’d to the West, and to the North it lies. |
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), IV. 5. This city is fenced from the violence of the waves by several small islands.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., I. xxvi.
| While moss and clay and leaves combined | |
| To fence each crevice from the wind. |
1841. G. P. R. James, Brigand, ii. That kitchen was well fenced from the wind and rain.
c. gen. in material or immaterial sense.
c. 1510. More, Life of John Picus, Wks. 8/1. Fensyng my selfe with the crucifixe, bare fote walkyng about the worlde in euery town and castel.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 57. Every creature livyng should fense it self against outward violence.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. vi. 75. George. Where’s Captaine Margaret, to fence you now?
1602. Fulbecke, Pandectes, 16. By the continuall practise of nations … the right of Primogeniture … is fenced, supported and defended.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, III. iii. (1840), 119. Fencing his former villanies by committing new ones.
1681–6. J. Scott, Chr. Life (1747), III. 378. Another of those Ministries which Princes are obliged, by virtue of their Subjection to Christ, to render the Church, is to fence and cultivate its Peace and good Order.
1692. trans. Milton’s Def Pop., Wks. 1738, I. 460. We may fence ourselves against the latter [open enemies].
1850. Blackie, Æschylus, II. 160.
| Fence every gate with valiant-hearted men, | |
| Well-harnessed for the fight. |
1884. Tennyson, Becket, 143. He fenced his royal promise with an if.
† 3. trans. To equip for defence. Obs.
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. I. 131. A ship … well fensed with munitions.
† 4. intr. To set up a defence against; to provide protection against. Obs.
1676. Temple, Lett. to Sir E. Dearing, Wks. 1731, II. 357. I made use of this Circumstance to fence against this Resolution of the States.
1691. Ray, Creation, I. (1692), 140. Feathers very thick set upon their Breasts … to fence against the cold of the water.
1702. A. Charlett, in Pepys’ Diary, VI. 246. The relapse of which I must fence against.
1709. Swift, Adv. Relig., Wks. (1778), II. 82. The lawyer, the tradesman, the mechanic, have found so many arts to deceive in their several callings, that they far outgrow the common prudence of mankind, which is in no sort able to fence against them.
1759. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, I. Ded. Epist. I live in a constant endeavour to fence against the infirmities of ill health, and other evils of life, by mirth; being firmly persuaded that every time a man smiles,—but much more so, when he laughs, it adds something to this Fragment of Life.
5. trans. To keep out, ward off, repel. Said both of persons and things. Also to fence off, out. Often with mixture of sense 6. arch.
a. 1592. Greene, Poems, Shepherd’s Ode, 66.
| A cloak of grey fenc’d the rain; | |
| Thus ’tirèd was this lovely swain. |
1639. Fuller, Holy War, I. ix. 14. The Bosporus was too narrow a ditch … to fense the Pagans out of West Christendome.
1643. Burroughes, Exp. Hosea viii. (1652), 285. They heard the sweet promises of the Gospel opened, yet they fenced off thy word as with a shield.
c. 1710. C. Fiennes, Diary (1888), 130. These high banks are made to draine and ffence out ye water from ye Lower grounds.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 327. They had neither mast or sail, anchor or cable, head or stern, no bows to fence off the waves, or rudder to steer any course, or oars to give any motion to their floats.
1742. Shenstone, The School-mistress, 64.
| A russet stole was o’er her shoulders thrown! | |
| A russet kirtle fenc’d the nipping air; | |
| ’Twas simple russet, but it was her own. |
1785. Paley, Moral Phil. (1818), II. 342. Government is well warranted in fencing out the whole sect from situations of trust and power.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., xix. A cup of sack shall fence the cold.
6. trans. To surround with or as with a fence (see FENCE sb. 4, 5); to enclose, fortify, protect.
1435. Nottingham Rec., II. 355. Thay to fens it [Est Croft] ham selfe at thayre awne coste.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VII. 466. Ye Englysshe hoste ... was myghtely fensyd with wood and tryes.
1535. Coverdale, Ezek. xxxvi. 35. The … broken downe cities, are now stronge and fensed agayne.
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 54. Whate forte were best to be fenced?
1611. Bible, Isa. v. 2. Hee fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine.
1631. T. May, trans. Barclay’s Mirrour of Mindes, ii. 39. The lands of priuate men, after the manner of their country, were fenced with ditches, whose bankes were adorned with rowes of trees.
1650. Fuller, A Pisgah-sight of Palestine, III. ii. 317. Their roofs were flat and fenced with battlements, by speciall command from God, to prevent casualties of people falling thence.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1840), I. x. 173. Some enclosed piece of ground, well fenced, either with hedge or pale, to keep them in so effectually, that those within might not break out, or those without break in.
1793. Trans. Soc. Encourag. Arts, IV. 4. Which are all fenced with a good stone wall.
1832. Lytton, Eugene A., I. i. 3. The greater part of them fenced also from the unfrequented road a little spot.
absol. 1892. Midland News, 4 March, 6. We must fence more, and we shall be … independent of herds.
fig. 1683. Burnet, trans. More’s Utopia (1685), 110. The Minds of the Utopians, when fenced with a Love for Learning, are very ingenious in discovering all such arts as are necessary to carry it to perfection.
1763–5. Churchill, Poems, The Conference.
| Suppose thy Writings so well fenc’d in Law, | |
| That N—— —— cannot find, nor make a Flaw. |
1841. F. Myers, Cath. Th., IV. § 26. 306. The Jews were cultured in aversion from the rest of mankind, and fenced against communion with them by most elaborate contrivances, which mingled themselves with almost every action of daily life.
1843. H. Rogers, Ess. (1860), III. 46. Vincentius … takes care … to fence his proposition with … limitations.
1870. Emerson, Soc. & Solit., Books, Wks. (Bohn), III. 77. The men themselves were hid and inaccessible, solitary, impatient of interruption, fenced by etiquette.
b. with about, in, round, up. To fence off: to keep off by a fence. Also absol.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Chron. xiv. 7. Let vs buylde vp these cities, and fense them rounde aboute with walles.
1611. Bible, Job xix. 8. Hee hath fenced vp my way that I cannot passe; and hee hath set darkenesse in my pathes.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 100. They [Crocodiles] will devoure whom they catch in the river: which makes the countrey people to fence in those places where they fetch their water.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 697.
| On either side | |
| Acanthus, and each odorous bushie shrub | |
| Fenc’d up the verdant wall. |
1697. Dampier, Voy., I. viii. 222. These leaves are fenced round with strong Prickles above an inch long.
1713. Steele, Englishman, No. 3, 10 Oct., 15. It is the Happiness of an Englishman, that his Property is fenced about with Laws and Privileges, into which no Power can make any Incursion, except it is encouraged by his own Stupidity or Cowardice.
1822. ‘B. Cornwall,’ Poems, Let. Boccaccio, v.
| Her dwelling was | |
| Fenced round by trees which shatter’d the firece air | |
| To fragments, pine and oak. |
1869. R. B. Smyth, Gold Fields of Victoria, 610. Fencing in a Claim—Making a drive round the boundaries of an alluvial claim to secure the washdirt from being worked out by adjoining claimholders.
1877. E. R. Conder, The Basis of Faith, viii. 349. It will be difficult to fence in securely on the side of Pantheism.
c. To part off by a fence or fences. In quot. fig.
1881. C. De Kay, The Vision of Nimrod, ii. 9.
| Of Babylon I made the stateliest city | |
| The earth has yet upon its surface known. | |
| Nation I fenced from nation without pity | |
| That all might wend toward Babylon alone. |
† d. Of a thing: To serve as a fence for. Obs.
1523. Fitzherbert, The Boke of Husbandry, § 125. Yf it [thy dyche] be .v. fote brode … [t]han it wolde … fence it-selfe & the lower hedge wyll serue.
7. intr. Of a horse: To leap a fence.
1884. A. Watson, Steeple-chasing, in Longm. Mag., III. 611. What he lacks in speed is to a great extent compensated for by the cleverness with which he fences.
1891. Field, 7 March, 338/1. Harlequin and Fast Day went to the front … the way they fenced was a treat to see.
8. trans. (Sc. Law.) a. To open the proceedings of (the Parliament or a Court of Law) by the use of a form of words forbidding persons to interrupt or obstruct the proceedings unnecessarily.
1513–75. Diurn. Occurrents (Bannatyne Club), 214. He post to William Pikis hous … and thair fensit the Parliament.
c. 1565. Lindsay of Pitscottie, Chron. Scot. (1728), 199. The Queen … stayed till the Parliament was fenced.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., 158. The Court sould be fensed.
1637. Rutherford, Lett., lxxvii. (1863), I. 198. I know not if this court kept within my soul be fenced in Christ’s name.
1663. Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1792), I. 191. The parliament is fenced, and all sits down in order.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxi. ‘They wunna fence the court.’
b. To prohibit by law, edict, or proclamation.
1596. Burgh Rec. Glasgow, 6 Aug. (1876), I. 180. Bot to fens the same fra doing thairof.
c. To poind or arrest for debt.
1570. Burgh Rec. Prestwick, 20 Nov. (1834), 72. For this geyr … quhilk was fencet in his hand be Jhone Ondirwood officer.
† d. Hence, To fence a band: to make a league (L. ferīre fœdus). Obs. rare–1.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, I. (1822), 41. Commandis you me to fens ane band with the Fader-Patrate of Albane pepill?
9. In the Scottish Presbyterian Churches: To fence the tables: to deliver an exhortation calculated to deter unworthy persons from communicating.
1709. W. Stewart (of Pardovan), Worship Ch. Scott., II. iv. 140. He fenceth and openeth the Tables.
1833. Fraser’s Mag., VIII. 406. The objurgation, or fencing the tables, was concluded.
1879. Jamieson, Scot. Dict., s.v. Bicker-raid, A clergyman in fencing the tables at a sacrament, debarred all who had been guilty of [etc.].
1882. [see DEBARRATION].
10. To close for hunting or fishing (a forest, river, etc.).
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. 39. The rivers that were fenced … were directed to be laid open.
† 11. To keep in position by a gauge or guide. Cf. FENCE sb. 6 a. Obs.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 90. Should you not thus Fence them … one piece being never so little out of its due Position, would drive the next piece more out.
12. slang. a. To purchase or sell with guilty knowledge (stolen goods). Also absol.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, C ij/2. To fence property [printed properly], to sell anything that is stolne.
1789. G. Parker, Life’s Painter, 153. Fenced is disposing of anything stolen for a quarter of the value.
1819. J. H. Vaux, Mem., I. xii. 141. The stranger observing that he knew where to fence the book, allowed Bromley and myself five shillings each on that account.
1840. Marryat, Poor Jack, xviii. Does old Nanny fence?
b. To spend or lay out (money).
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Fence, to Spend or Lay out. Fence his Hog, to Spend his Shilling.
1725. in New Cant. Dict.
