[f. FENCE v. + -ER1.]
1. One who fences. a. One who fights, or practises fencing with a foil or sword; a swordsman.
1581. Pettie, Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., I. (1586), 37 b. A fencer, who making at his enimies head, striketh him on the legge.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, V. ii. 13. As blunt as the Fencers foiles, which hit, but hurt not.
1649. Bp. Hall, Cases Consc., II. ii. 109. Whether of the two is the better Fencer.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 422, 4 July, ¶ 6. They do not thrust with the Skill of Fencers, but cut up with the barbarity of butchers.
1809. Roland, Fencing, 39. There has been, even by good Fencers, some controversy respecting this parade.
1829. Lytton, Devereux, I. iv. They tell me that you are the best fencer in the school—is it so?
† b. One who fences in public shows; a hired or professional swordsman. Obs.
1572. Act 14 Eliz., c. 5 § 5. All Fencers … Comon Players in Enterludes, & minstrels, not belonging to any Baron.
1583. Fleetwood, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. II. 292. One Dwelles, a fenser nere Cicell howse.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., III. iv. 307. They say, he has bin Fencer to the Sophy.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1638), 158. He … appointed certaine Ruffians and Fencers to watch her house.
† c. A gladiator. Also fencer at the sharp. Obs.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xxiii. 349. They had not made their wonted showes of Fensers and Swordplayers; that is to say, of men that slewe one another openly to please them withall, and to make a whole state giltie of manslaughter and murder.
1632. Sir R. Le Grys, trans. Velleius Paterculus, 340. Most magnificent shewes of Fencers at the sharpe.
1637. R. Humphrey, trans. St. Ambrose, I. 137. The clamour of gamesters, the slaughter of fensers.
1693. Congreve, Juvenal, xi. 15.
| A man in his full Tide of Youthful Blood, | |
| Able for Arms, and for his Country’s good; | |
| Urg’d by no Pow’r, restrain’d by no Advice, | |
| But following his own Inglorious choice: | |
| ’Mongst common Fencers, Practices the Trade, | |
| That End debasing, for which Arms were made. |
A. fig.
a. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), II. 206. A Quibbler … is a Fencer of Language, that falsifies his Blow, and hits where he did not aim.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1766), I. 254. Here were a couple of fencers engaged in disputes.
2. Austr. One employed in putting up fences.
1881. Mrs. C. Praed, Policy & P., I. 241. ‘Where is father?’ asked the former. ‘In the office settling with the fencers,’ replied Mrs. Ferris.
1892. Pall Mall G., 7 June, 7/1. This shuts Kanakas out from the business of … sawyers, splitters, fencers.
3. A horse that jumps fences. Chiefly with prefixed adj., as a good, bold, etc. fencer.
1852. R. S. Surtees, Sponge’s Sp. Tour, xliv. 249. Don’t know that I ever rode a better fencer.
1876. World, No. 120. 12. Few areas … require a bigger or bolder fencer.
4. slang. (see quots.)
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Crew, Queere-cole-fencer, a Receiver and putter off [of] false Money.
c. 1700. Street Robberies Consider’d, Fencer, Receiver of stolen Goods.
5. Comb., as fencer-like adj.; † fencer-month = fence-month.
1660. Fisher, Rustick’s Alarm, Wks. (1679), 208. Ye glory in your Fencer-like Faculties of Disputing in Form, and Mood.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Season of Beasts, a Hart or Buck begins at the end of Fencer-Month.
Hence Fenceress [+ -ESS], a female fencer.
a. 1661. Holyday, Juvenal, 93.
| What Beauty yet thus fir’d her? what young face | |
| Caught Hippia thus? for which, she chose disgrace, | |
| To be instil’d The Fenceress! |
