fencingn.
/ˈfɛnsɪŋ/ The action of fence v.
1. figurative.1609 W. Shakespeare Pericles xix. 62 Pray you without anie more virginall fencing . View more context for this quotation1687 J. Dryden Hind & Panther ii. 35 After long fencing push'd, against a wall, Your salvo comes, that he's not there at all.1849 A. Helps Friends in Council II. i. iv. 95 There is skilful fencing even in our talk.1876 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest V. xxiii. 117 A piece of diplomatic fencing.
a. The action or art of using the sword scientifically as a weapon of offence or defence; the practice of this art with a blunted sword, foil, or stick.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > fencing > [noun]
buckler-playing1468
fence1533
defence1549
noble science1549
buckler-play1575
fencing1581
digladiation1589
sword-play1627
escrime1652
the (noble, also manly) art of self-defence1724
science1729
swordmanship1781
swordsmanship1851
swording1891
sword-work1913
1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xviii. 79 Concerning fensing, or skill how to handle the weapon.
1642 T. Fuller Holy State iii. xiii. 185 Fencing is warre without anger.
1741 Mem. Martinus Scriblerus vii. 26 in A. Pope Wks. II These..could no more be learned alone, than Fencing or Cudgel-playing.
1829 E. Bulwer-Lytton Devereux I. i. iv. 39 Fencing is an accomplishment in which Gerald is very nearly my equal.
b. In wider sense: (see quot. 1692).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > [noun]
defence1549
pugilation1656
fencing1692
boxing1693
the (noble, also manly) art of self-defence1724
noble art1749
bruising1750
ring1770
noble science1778
pugilism1788
sparring1797
the sweet science1810
the fancy1820
pugilistics1820
pugnastics1830
fista1839
scrapping1891
ring-work1899
no contest1922
1692 O. Walker Greek & Rom. Hist. 158 Fencing, Pugilatus, was fighting with Fists.
2. The action of protecting, or of setting up a defence against (evil). †Also quasi-concrete, means of defence (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > [noun] > means of defence
hornc825
defencec1350
garnisonc1386
wall1412
fencec1440
defensoryc1475
fencing1489
muniment1546
frontier1589
bar1603
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > [noun]
warec893
mundbyrdeOE
mundOE
forhillinga1300
hillinga1300
weringa1300
warranting1303
garrisonc1320
defencec1325
defendingc1350
protectionc1350
garnisonc1386
safe warda1398
warrantise?a1400
safeguard1421
safekeeping1425
defension?a1439
defendancec1450
warisonc1450
propugnation1575
guard1576
fortifying1580
debate1581
shielding1581
shrouda1586
patronage1590
shrouding1615
fortressing?1624
munification1653
fencinga1661
castleward1674
fending1771
safeguardance1897
1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Fayttes of Armes i. x. 27 In sawtyng or fensyng of a forteresse a slynge is good.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) i. 3 Providence having given men Hands..all Clothing and fencing is..bestowed upon him.
1668 N. Culpeper & A. Cole tr. T. Bartholin Anat. (new ed.) ii. i. 88 The more noble parts require great fencing.
1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. II. xxxvii. 308 The fencing against the pains and infirmities under which he laboured occupied a great part of his time.
3.
a. The action of putting up fences or enclosing with a fence or protection; also fencing in.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > enclosing or enclosure > [noun] > with a fence
fencing1628
society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > building or providing with specific parts > [noun] > constructing or enclosing with fences
railing?a1450
paling?1469
stowering1557
fencing1628
palisading1729
impalement1828
staking1897
1628 Bp. J. Hall Serm. Publike Fast 27 All this prouision of..Fencing, Stoning, Planting, were nothing without a continual ouer-sight.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 272 I went on with my..planting [and] fencing.
1819 W. Cobbett Year's Resid. U.S.A. ii. Pref. 144 Fencing..presses itself upon the attention of the..Farmer.
1892 Lockwood's Dict. Mech. Engin. (ed. 2) Fencing In.—The enclosure of machinery..Fencing in is compulsory.
b. concrete. An enclosure or railing; fences collectively; sometimes preceded by some qualifying word, as rail-fencing, stone-fencing, wire-fencing. Also the materials of fences for farms (U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > that which or one who closes or shuts > a barrier > [noun] > hedge or fence > a fence > collectively
fencingc1585
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > that which or one who closes or shuts > a barrier > [noun] > hedge or fence > a fence > material of
fencing1857
c1585 R. Browne Answere to Cartwright 44 Let [him]..shewe..an orcharde..without..some safe inclosing or fencing.
1857 J. Ruskin Elements Drawing 326 A decayed fragment or two of fencing fill the gaps in the bank.
1881 Encycl. Brit. XII. 190/1 For..Sussex, where..the fencing for the most part [is] what is called cramped.
4. The action of leaping a fence.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting with hounds > [noun] > riding after hounds > jumping fences
fencing1827
timber-topping1904
1827 Sporting Mag. 20 203 With our first fox we had some very severe fencing.
1861 G. J. Whyte-Melville Market Harborough 275 When hounds run best pace, horses have not wind for extraordinary exertions in the matter of fencing.
5. Scottish. The opening of a Parliament or Court of Justice with the prescribed formula denouncing penalties against disturbers. Cf. fence v. 8.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > [noun] > opening of court with required formula
fencec1540
fencing1708
1708 Proclam. in London Gaz. No. 4464/4 Our Proclamation to be..read in Open Court immediately after Fencing thereof.
1752 J. Louthian Form of Process (ed. 2) 232 That ye..be present at the said Justice-court, before the down-sitting and fencing thereof.
6. slang. The action or habit of receiving or dealing in stolen goods.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > receiving or possessing stolen goods > [noun]
receivinga1382
resetment1449
receipt1483
reception1780
hand-habend1828
fencing1851
1851 H. Mayhew London Labour I. 255/2 Their ‘fencing’..does not extend to any plate.
1880 Standard 12 Apr. 5/2 Receiving stolen property, or ‘fencing’..is largely practised in London.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a. (In sense 1.)
fencing-foil n.
ΚΠ
1829 E. Bulwer-Lytton Devereux I. ii. i. 160 A table was covered with books, a couple of fencing foils..and..letters.
fencing-grace n.
ΚΠ
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 ii. i. 195 This is the right fencing grace..tap for tap, and so part faire. View more context for this quotation
fencing-hall n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > fencing > [noun] > fencing place
ruffian's hall1592
fencing-hall1601
salle d'armes1885
piste1906
salle1961
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 434 Our common fencing-halls, and places of publick exercises.
fencing-master n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > fencing > [noun] > fencing-master
master, teacher of fence1533
sa-sa man1607
fencing-mastera1648
pushing master1699
maître d'armes1830
a1648 Ld. Herbert Life (1976) 32 The good fencing Masters..present a Foyle or Fleuret to their Schollers.
fencing-match n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > fencing > [noun] > bout or contest
scrimmage1488
venya1592
venue1601
thrust1602
fencing-match1781
1781 R. B. Sheridan Critic ii. ii As smart as hits in a fencing-match.
fencing-room n.
ΚΠ
1897 Outing 30 200/1 The contest was held March 20th in the fencing-room of the New York Athletic Club.
fencing-school n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > fencing > [noun] > fencing school
fencing-school1637
pushing-school1699
1637 T. Nabbes Microcosmus 1 I was bred up in Mars his Fencing-schoole.
1712 E. Budgell Spectator No. 539. ¶1 Like him who comes into a fencing-school to pick a quarrel.
fencing-skill n.
b. (In sense 3.)
fencing-branch n.
ΚΠ
1669 J. Worlidge Systema Agriculturæ (1681) 101 The Black-Thorn [etc.]..yield a very good Fencing-branch.
fencing-gear n.
fencing post n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > that which or one who closes or shuts > a barrier > [noun] > hedge or fence > a fence > post-and-rail fence > post
fence-post1792
fencing post1877
1877 H. C. Hodge Arizona 59 The forests of juniper will furnish large quantities of the most durable railroad ties, fencing posts.
1950 N.Z. Jrnl. Agric. Mar. 233/1 Pre-cast [concrete] products such as blocks and fencing posts.
fencing-stuff n. U.S.
ΚΠ
1645 in Springfield (Mass.) Rec. (1898) I. 183 Every man cut his fencinge stuff upon his owne grounde.
1680 Braintree (Mass.) Rec. 19 That no person..shall fall cutt or carry away any wood, timber [or] fencing stuff.
1893 B. Torrey Footpath-way 72 No wonder such fields do not pay for fencing-stuff.
fencing-wire n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > that which or one who closes or shuts > a barrier > [noun] > hedge or fence > a fence > wire fence > fencing-wire
barbed wire1874
barbwire1874
wire1876
fencing-wire1878
fish-hook wire1892
bob-wire1929
razor ribbon1975
1878 Rep. Indian Affairs (U.S.) 35 I suggested that fencing-wire be supplied.
1908 Westm. Gaz. 11 June 2/1 The fencing-wire trade.
1936 A. Russell Gone Nomad vi. 45 I had unloosed the wrong tie rope, thereby dropping a coil of fencing wire on Brown's toes.
C2.
fencing-cully n. a receiver and storer of stolen goods.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > receiver of stolen goods > [noun]
receiver?a1400
intaker1421
resetterc1430
marker1591
marter1591
fence1699
fencer1699
fencing-cully1699
lock1699
family man1747
locker1753
drop1915
smasher1929
handler1995
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Fencing Cully, a Broker, or Receiver of Stolen goods.
fencing-gauge n. (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > equipment for marking out work > [noun] > others
jointing-rule1700
tracing-pin1712
pitch-board1733
skirret1825
odontograph1838
bevelling-board1850
fencing-gauge1874
tingle1886
shadow-stick1900
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 836/1 Fencing-gage, an implement to space and hold boards against a post while nailing them.
fencing-ken n. a storing place for stolen goods.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > receiver of stolen goods > [noun] > repository for stolen goods
fencing-ken1699
fencing-repository1812
trap1930
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Fencing-ken, the Magazine..where Stolen goods are secured.
fencing-machine n. a machine for shaping, fitting and finishing posts, rails, etc. for fences ( Cent. Dict.).
fencing-nail n. (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > nail > nails for other specific uses
stay-nail1296
wough-nailc1300
strake-nail1334
wall-nail1344
traverse nail1348
doornail1350
gad-nail1375
lath-nail1388
clout-nail1463
lattice-nail1480
lath-brod1536
sheathing-nail1611
bellows-nail1731
weight nail1850
panel pin1867
wheeler1873
fencing-nail1874
brattice-nail1880
toggle1934
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 836/1 Fencing-nail, a heavy nail of its class adapted for fastening on fencing-boards.
fencing-repository n. = fencing-ken n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > receiver of stolen goods > [noun] > repository for stolen goods
fencing-ken1699
fencing-repository1812
trap1930
1812 Sporting Mag. 39 209 A convenient fencing repository.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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