† forefencen.
Obsolete.
A first or front defence; a bulwark.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > defensive work(s) > earthwork or rampart > [noun] > outwork
forewallOE
barrace1380
before-wallinga1382
vaumurec1475
faussebraie1490
forework1497
vauntmure1562
counterguard1591
forefence1609
forefight?1611
outworkc1615
crownwork1638
false braye1645
crowned work1677
1609 P. Holland tr. Ammianus Marcellinus Rom. Hist. xiv. ii. 4 Within their thicke growne Fastnesses and Fore-fences..they maintained and enriched themselves.
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 755 The Iland Walney as a fore fence or countremure lying a long by it.
1677 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Oxford-shire 320 A praetentura, or fore-fence of the Romans raised against the Britans.
Derivatives
ˈforefence v. (transitive) to serve as an outer defence or bulwark to.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > defensive work(s) > fortify [verb (transitive)] > serve as outer defence to
forefence1610
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 627 The mountaines of Talgar and Ewias doe as it were forefense it.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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