Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FENCE-LESS, a. [fens'less.]

1. Without a fence; uninclosed; unguarded.
2. Open; not inclosed; as, the fenceless ocean. Rowe.

FENCE'-MONTH, n.

The month in which hunting in any forest is prohibited. Bullokar.

FEN'CER, n.

One who fences; one who teaches or practices the art of fencing with sword or foil. Digby.

FEN'CI-BLE, a.

1. Capable of defense. Spenser. Addison.
2. n. A soldier for, defense of the country; as, a regiment of fencibles.

FEN'CING, n.

1. The art of using skillfully a sword or foil in attack or defense; an art taught in schools.
2. The materials of fences for farms. New England.

FEN'CING, ppr.

Inclosing with fence; guarding; fortifying.

FEN'CING-MAS-TER, n.

One who teaches the art of attack and defense with sword or foil.

FEN'CING-SCHOOL, n.

A school in which the art of fencing is taught.

FEN'-CRESS, n. [Sax. fen-cerse.]

Cress growing in fens.

FEN'-CRICK-ET, n. [Gryllotalpa.]

An insect that digs for itself a little hole in the ground. Johnson.

FEND, v.i.

To act in opposition; to resist; to parry; to shift off. Locke.

FEND, v.t. [The root of defend and offend. The primary sense is to fall on, or to strike, to repel.]

To keep off; to prevent from entering; to ward off; to shut out. With fern beneath to fend the bitter cold. Dryden. It is usually followed by off; as, to fend off blows. To fend off a boat or vessel, is to prevent its running against another, or against a wharf, &c., with too much violence.

FEND'ED, pp.

Kept off; warded off; shut out.

FEND'ER, n.

1. That which defends; an utensil employed to hinder coals of fire from rolling forward to the floor.
2. A piece of timber or other thing hung over the side of a vessel to prevent it from striking or rubbing against a wharf, also to preserve a small vessel from being injured by a large one.

FEND'ING, ppr.

Keeping or warding off.

FEN'-DUCK, n.

A species of wild duck.

FEN'ER-ATE, v.i. [L. fœnero.]

To put to use; to lend on interest. [Not used.]

FEN-ER-A'TION, n.

The act of lending on use; or the interest or gain of that which is lent.

FE-NES'TRAL, a. [L. fenestralis, from fenestra, a window.]

Pertaining to a window. Nicholson.

FEN'-FOWL, n.

Any fowl that frequents fens.

FEN'-LAND, n.

Marshy land.

FEN'NEL, n. [Sax. fenol; G. fenchel; D. venkel; Sw. fenkål; Dan. fennikel; W. fenigyl; Fr. fenouil; Sp. hinojo; It. finocchio; Ir. feneul; L. fœniculum, from fœnum, hay.]

A fragrant plant of the genus Fœniculum, cultivated in gardens.

FEN'NEL-FLOW-ER, n.

A plant of the genus Nigella.

FEN'NEL-GI-ANT, n.

A plant of the genus Ferula.

FEN'NY, a. [from fen.]

1. Boggy; marshy; moorish. Moxon.
2. Growing in fens; as fenny brake. Prior.
3. Inhabiting marshy ground; as, a fenny snake. Shak.