Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Origin: defense

fence

1 noun
     
fence
Related topics: Daily Life, Horses, Crime, Building
fence1 S3 [countable]
1TBD a structure made of wood, metal etc that surrounds a piece of land
2DSH a wall or other structure that horses jump over in a race or competition
3 informalSCC someone who buys and sells stolen goods
4

sit/be on the fence

to avoid saying which side of an argument you support

➔ mend (your) fences

at mend1 (4)
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
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