| 释义 |
fencible, a. and n.|ˈfɛnsɪb(ə)l|
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.
c1325Coer de L. 3296 For we have herinne Syxty thousand men fensable. c1475Rauf Coilȝear 329 One thousand..of fensabill men. 1535Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 475 All other men commandit for to tak..That fensabill war. 1637–50Row Hist. Kirk. (1842) 519 The toune of Aberdeen wes charged, that all fensible persons appeare in their arms. 1693E. Halley in Phil. Trans. XVII. 601 The whole Force this City can raise of Fencible Men, as the Scotch call them, is about 9000. 1756Ibid. XLIX. 880 There can be no increase at all of our fencible men. 1820Scott Monast. xxxiv, Where is the roll of fencible men liable to do suit and service to the Halidome? 1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. i. v. iv, Let fencible men..keep watch and ward.
2. Of arms and armour: Capable of being used for defence. Sc.
a1572Knox Hist. Ref. Wks. 1846 I. 87 The soldeouris caist from thame thaire pickis..and utheris weaponis fensable. 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.
1590Spenser F.Q. iii. x. 10 No fort so fensible..But that continuall battery will rive. 1599Hakluyt Voy. II. 132 A roade..made very fensible with strong walls. 1632Lithgow Trav. vi. 299 Houses, being Walled and fensible against the Arabs. a1682Sir J. Turner Mem., Battle of Preston, Baillie had..lodged the foot..among very fencible enclosures. 1820Scott Monast. ix, This old tower of thine is fencible enough.
b. transf. of a building: That is in good repair.
1417Surtees 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.
1799J. Robertson Agric. Perth 84 All fences..must be left..in a fencible condition.
5. The n. used attrib.: Belonging to the corps called Fencibles.
1795Hist. Europe in Ann. Reg. (1796) 50/2 The expences accompanying the fencible cavalry. 1804Wellington in Gurw. Desp. II. 642 To station the fencible battalion at Surat. 1844Regul. & Ord. Army 4 Officers of Fencible and Militia Regiments rank together.
B. n. A soldier liable only for defensive service at home. Also, land-fencible, river-fencible, sea-fencible.
1796Sporting Mag. VII. 279 A military hero, whom the..tactics of the day denominate a fencible. 1803G. Rose Diaries (1860) II. 57 Captain Essington, commanding the Sea Fencibles at Dover. 1806A. Duncan Nelson's Fun. 12 The river fencibles were stationed close to the entrance. 1816Scott Antiq. xlv, ‘A' the sea fencibles, and the land fencibles..are on fit.’ 1837Lockhart Scott (1839) I. 305 Captain in the Perthshire Fencibles. 1839J. Stevenson Justiciary Garland 75 A fencible I'll guard at home. |