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fencing

 - 7 dictionary results

fenc⋅ing

[fen-sing]
–noun
1. the art, practice, or sport in which an épée, foil, or saber is used for defense and attack.
2. a parrying of arguments; avoidance of direct answers: political fencing on important issues.
3. an enclosure or railing.
4. fences collectively.
5. material for fences.

Origin:
1425–75; late ME fensing safeguarding, maintenance. See fence, -ing 1

fence

[fens] noun, verb, fenced, fenc⋅ing.
–noun
1. a barrier enclosing or bordering a field, yard, etc., usually made of posts and wire or wood, used to prevent entrance, to confine, or to mark a boundary.
2. Informal. a person who receives and disposes of stolen goods.
3. the place of business of such a person.
4. the act, practice, art, or sport of fencing.
5. skill in argument, repartee, etc.
6. Machinery. a guard or guide, as for regulating the movements of a tool or work.
7. Carpentry. a slotted guide used esp. with a framing square to lay out cuts on rafters and staircase strings.
8. Archaic. a means of defense; a bulwark.
–verb (used with object)
9. to enclose by some barrier, establishing exclusive right to possession: to fence a farm.
10. to separate by or as by a fence or fences (often fol. by in, off, out, etc.): to fence off a corner of one's yard; to fence out unwholesome influences.
11. to defend; protect; guard: The president was fenced by bodyguards wherever he went.
12. to ward off; keep out.
13. Informal. to sell (stolen goods) to a fence.
14. Nautical. to reinforce (an opening in a sail or the like) by sewing on a grommet or other device.
–verb (used without object)
15. to practice the art or sport of fencing.
16. to parry arguments; strive to avoid giving direct answers; hedge: The mayor fenced when asked if he would run again.
17. (of a horse) to leap over a fence.
18. Obsolete. to raise a defense.
19. mend one's fences, to strengthen or reestablish one's position by conciliation or negotiation: One could tell by his superficially deferential manner that he was trying to mend his fences.
20. on the fence, uncommitted; neutral; undecided: The party leaders are still on the fence.

Origin:
1300–50; ME fens, aph. for defens defense


fencelike, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To fencing
fence   (fěns)   
n.  
  1. A structure serving as an enclosure, a barrier, or a boundary, usually made of posts or stakes joined together by boards, wire, or rails.

  2. The art or sport of fencing.

    1. One who receives and sells stolen goods.

    2. A place where stolen goods are received and sold.

  3. Archaic A means of defense; a protection.

v.   fenced, fenc·ing, fenc·es

v.   tr.
  1. To enclose with or as if with a fence. See Synonyms at enclose.

  2. To separate or close off by or as if by means of a fence.

    1. To ward off; keep away.

    2. To defend.

  3. To sell (stolen goods) to a fence.

v.   intr.
  1. To practice the art or sport of fencing.

  2. To use tactics similar to the parry and thrust of fencing.

  3. To avoid giving direct answers; hedge.

  4. To act as a conduit for stolen goods.


[Middle English fens, short for defens, defense; see defense.]
fenc'er n.
fenc·ing   (fěn'sĭng)   
n.  
  1. The art or sport of using a foil, épée, or saber in attack and defense.

  2. Skillful repartee, especially as a defense against having to give direct answers.

  3. Material, such as wire, stakes, and rails, used in building fences.

  4. A barrier or enclosure of fences.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

fence  (n.)
c.1330, shortening of defens (see defense). Spelling alternated between -c- and -s- in M.E. Sense of "enclosure" is first recorded 1512. Fencible (c.1325) means "capable of making a defense." Sense of "dealer in stolen goods" is thieves' slang, first attested c.1700, from notion of such transactions taking place under defense of secrecy. To be figuratively on the fence "uncommitted" is from 1828, from the notion of spectators at a fight.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Financial Dictionary

fence

An investment position consisting of being long (or short) a stock or commodity, being long (or short) an out-of-the-money put, and being short (or long) an out-of-the-money call. Both options have the same expiration date.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: fence
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: fenced; fenc·ing
1 a : to enclose with a fence b : to keep in or out with a fence
2 : to sell (stolen property) to a fence
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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