Etymograph

English

fence

Fence comes from Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰen- ‘to strike, slay, kill’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʷʰen-‘to strike, slay, kill’root as named · steps between not traced
  2. Old Frenchc. 842–1400defens
  3. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500fence
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1594same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʷʰen-‘to strike, slay, kill’root as named · steps between not traced
  2. Old Frenchc. 842–1400defens
  3. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500fence
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1594same form

Earliest quotation: 1594, Christopher Marlowe, Edward II: “Cosin, our hands I hope shall fence our heads,…”

The story

The sense "enclosure" arises in the mid 15th century. Also from the 15th century is use as a verb in the sense "to enclose with a fence". The generalized sense "to defend, screen, protect" arises ca. 1500. The sense "to fight with swords (rapiers)" is from the 1590s (Shakespeare).

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰen- ‘to strike, slay, kill’

offensive, defend, offense, bane, offend, fend, infest, 5 more

through Old French defens

defense, 1 more

Today it means

noun A thin artificial barrier that separates two pieces of land or forms a perimeter enclosing the lands of a house, building, etc.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰen- / fence

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