Fencing

:This article is about the sport. For the structures for dividing property, and the process of erecting them, see fence; or, for other meanings, see fence (disambiguation).

Etymology

From fence - a shortening of the Middle English defens, from Latin defensum "thing protected or forbidden", from defendere "ward off, protect," from de- "from, away" + fendere "to strike, push". http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=fence

Related Topics:
Middle English - Latin

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First used as a verb in reference to swordsmanship by Shakespeare in The Merry Wives of Windsor (1598): "Alas sir, I cannot fence." http://dictionary.oed.com/

Related Topics:
Shakespeare - The Merry Wives of Windsor - 1598

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