a. and sb. Forms: 4–6 fensable, 5–6 fensabil(e, 5–7 fensible, (6 -ibill), 7– fencible. [Short for defensable, DEFENSIBLE.]
A. adj.
1. Of a person: Capable of making defence; fit and liable to be called on for defensive military service. Chiefly Sc.
c. 1325. Coer de L., 3295.
| For we have herinne, withouten fable, | |
| Syxty thousand men fensable. |
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 329. With thame ane thousand, and ma, of fensabill men.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 475.
| All other men commandit for to tak, | |
| Withoutin hurt other of lyth or lym, | |
| That fensabill war and bring thame all to him. |
1637–50. Row, The History of the Kirk of Scotland (1842), 519. The toune of Aberdeen wes charged, that all fensible persons appeare in their arms, and march south aganis the Covenanters with my Lord of Aboyn his armie.
1693. E. Halley, in Phil. Trans., XVII. 601. The whole Force this City can raise of Fencible Men, as the Scotch call them, is about 9000. Ibid. (1756), XLIX. 880. There can be no increase at all of our fencible men.
1820. Scott, Monast., xxxiv. Where is the roll of fencible men liable to do suit and service to the Halidome?
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. V. iv. Let fencible men … keep watch and ward.
2. Of arms and armour: Capable of being used for defence. Sc.
a. 1572. Knox, Hist. Ref., Wks. (1846), I. 87. The soldeouris caist from thame thaire pickis, culveringis, and utheris weaponis fensable; the horsmen left thair spearis; and so, without judgement, all men fled.
15[?]. Aberdeen Reg., V. 20 (Jam.). To consider … euery nychtbour quhay hes fensabil geir & vappynnis.
3. Of a fortress, town, etc.: Capable of being defended; strong, well-fortified.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. x. 10.
| No fort so fensible, no wals so strong, | |
| But that continuall battery will rive. |
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. 132. A roade … made very fensible with strong walls.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VI. 299. Houses, being Walled and fensible against the Arabs.
a. 1682. Sir J. Turner, Mem., Battle of Preston. Baillie had advantageously lodged the foot, on the top of a Hill, among very fencible enclosures.
1820. Scott, Monast., ix. This old tower of thine is fencible enough.
b. transf. of a building: That is in good repair.
1417. Surtees Misc. (1890), 13. Þat the foresayd Thomas make hys pryve fensilble als it awe to be.
4. Such as will serve as a fence or enclosure.
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 84. All fences given sufficient at the farmer’s entry, must be left, at his removal, in a fencible condition, and the buildings in a habitable condition.
5. The sb. used attrib.: Belonging to the corps called Fencibles.
1795. Hist. Europe, in Ann. Reg. (1796), 50/2. The expences accompanying the fencible cavalry.
1804. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp., II. 642. To station the fencible battalion at Surat.
1844. Regul. & Ord. Army, 4. Officers of Fencible and Militia Regiments rank together according to the dates of their respective Commissions.
B. sb. A soldier liable only for defensive service at home. Also, land-, river-, sea-fencible.
1796. Sporting Mag., VII. Feb., 279/1. A military hero, whom the fashionable tactics of the day denominate a fencible.
1803. G. Rose, Diaries (1860), II. 57. Captain Essington, commanding the Sea Fencibles at Dover.
1806. A. Duncan, Nelson’s Fun., 12. The river fencibles were stationed close to the entrance.
1816. Scott, Antiq., xiv. ‘A’ the sea fencibles, and the land fencibles, and the volunteers and yeomanry, are on fit.’
1837. Lockhart, Scott (1839), I. 305. Captain in the Perthshire Fencibles.
1839. J. Stevenson, Justiciary Garland, 75. A fencible I’ll guard at home.
