Etymograph

English

fence sitter

From fence + sitter, from the verb sit on the fence.

A compound of fence + sitter

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

Old French defens

Middle English fence

English fence

Middle English sitter

English sitter

Today it means

noun One who takes neither side of an argument or controversy, but maintains a neutral position.

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

Etymograph / fence sitter