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Added 9 October 2026

fence

/fɛns/ noun

In Latin: saepēs Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about fence at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A thin artificial barrier that separates two pieces of land or forms a perimeter enclosing the lands of a house, building, etc.
Someone who hides or buys and sells stolen goods, a criminal middleman for transactions of stolen goods.
The place whence such a middleman operates.

verb

To enclose, contain or separate by building fence.
To defend or guard.
To engage in the selling or buying of stolen goods.

Origin

From Middle English fence, fens, short for defence, defens (“the act of defending”), from Old French defens, defense (see defence). The sense "enclosure" arises in the mid 15th century. Also from the 15th century is use as a verb in the sense "to enclose with a fence". The generalized sense "to defend, screen, protect" arises ca. 1500. The sense "to fight with swords (rapiers)" is from the 1590s (Shakespeare). Displaced native Old English heġe (compare Modern English hedge).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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