Meaning

noun a barrier that serves to enclose an area

noun a dealer in stolen property

verb enclose with a fence

originFrom Middle English fence, fens, short for defence, defens (“the act of defending”), from Old French defens, defense (see defence). 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…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0