ring fence : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: ring fence	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for ring fence
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Ring \Ring\, n. [AS. hring, hrinc; akin to Fries. hring, D. & G. ring, OHG. ring, hring, Icel. hringr, DAn. & SW. ring; cf. Russ. krug'. Cf. {Harangue}, {Rank} a row,{Rink}.] A circle, or a circular line, or anything in the form of a circular line or hoop. 2. Specifically, a circular ornament of gold or other precious material worn on the finger, or attached to the ear, the nose, or some other part of the person; as, a wedding ring. Upon his thumb he had of gold a ring. --Chaucer. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you. --Shak. 3. A circular area in which races are or run or other sports are performed; an arena. Place me, O, place me in the dusty ring, Where youthful charioteers contend for glory. --E. Smith. 4. An inclosed space in which pugilists fight; hence, figuratively, prize fighting. [bd]The road was an institution, the ring was an institution.[b8] --Thackeray. 5. A circular group of persons. And hears the Muses in a ring Aye round about Jove's alter sing. --Milton. 6. (Geom.) (a) The plane figure included between the circumferences of two concentric circles. (b) The solid generated by the revolution of a circle, or other figure, about an exterior straight line (as an axis) lying in the same plane as the circle or other figure. 7. (Astron. & Navigation) An instrument, formerly used for taking the sun's altitude, consisting of a brass ring suspended by a swivel, with a hole at one side through which a solar ray entering indicated the altitude on the graduated inner surface opposite. 8. (Bot.) An elastic band partly or wholly encircling the spore cases of ferns. See Illust. of {Sporangium}. 9. A clique; an exclusive combination of persons for a selfish purpose, as to control the market, distribute offices, obtain contracts, etc. The ruling ring at Constantinople. --E. A. Freeman. {Ring armor}, armor composed of rings of metal. See {Ring mail}, below, and {Chain mail}, under {Chain}. {Ring blackbird} (Zo[94]l.), the ring ousel. {Ring canal} (Zo[94]l.), the circular water tube which surrounds the esophagus of echinoderms. {Ring dotterel}, [or] {Ringed dotterel}. (Zo[94]l.) See {Dotterel}, and Illust. of {Pressiroster}. {Ring dropper}, a sharper who pretends to have found a ring (dropped by himself), and tries to induce another to buy it as valuable, it being worthless. {Ring fence}. See under {Fence}. {Ring finger}, the third finger of the left hand, or the next the little finger, on which the ring is placed in marriage. {Ring formula} (Chem.), a graphic formula in the shape of a closed ring, as in the case of benzene, pyridine, etc. See Illust. under {Benzene}. {Ring mail}, a kind of mail made of small steel rings sewed upon a garment of leather or of cloth. {Ring micrometer}. (Astron.) See {Circular micrometer}, under {Micrometer}. {Saturn's rings}. See {Saturn}. {Ring ousel}. (Zo[94]l.) See {Ousel}. {Ring parrot} (Zo[94]l.), any one of several species of Old World parrakeets having a red ring around the neck, especially {Pal[91]ornis torquatus}, common in India, and {P. Alexandri} of {Java}. {Ring plover}. (Zo[94]l.) (a) The ringed dotterel. (b) Any one of several small American plovers having a dark ring around the neck, as the semipalmated plover ({[92]gialitis semipalmata}). {Ring snake} (Zo[94]l.), a small harmless American snake ({Diadophis punctatus}) having a white ring around the neck. The back is ash-colored, or sage green, the belly of an orange red. {Ring stopper}. (Naut.) See under {Stopper}. {Ring thrush} (Zo[94]l.), the ring ousel. {The prize ring}, the ring in which prize fighters contend; prize fighters, collectively. {The ring}. (a) The body of sporting men who bet on horse races. [Eng.] (b) The prize ring.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fence \Fence\, n. [Abbrev. from defence.] 1. That which fends off attack or danger; a defense; a protection; a cover; security; shield. Let us be backed with God and with the seas, Which he hath given for fence impregnable. --Shak. A fence betwixt us and the victor's wrath. --Addison. 2. An inclosure about a field or other space, or about any object; especially, an inclosing structure of wood, iron, or other material, intended to prevent intrusion from without or straying from within. Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold. --Milton. Note: In England a hedge, ditch, or wall, as well as a structure of boards, palings, or rails, is called a fence. 3. (Locks) A projection on the bolt, which passes through the tumbler gates in locking and unlocking. 4. Self-defense by the use of the sword; the art and practice of fencing and sword play; hence, skill in debate and repartee. See {Fencing}. Enjoy your dear wit, and gay rhetoric, That hath so well been taught her dazzing fence. --Milton. Of dauntless courage and consummate skill in fence. --Macaulay. 5. A receiver of stolen goods, or a place where they are received. [Slang] --Mayhew. {Fence month} (Forest Law), the month in which female deer are fawning, when hunting is prohibited. --Bullokar. {Fence roof}, a covering for defense. [bd]They fitted their shields close to one another in manner of a fence roof.[b8] --Holland. {Fence time}, the breeding time of fish or game, when they should not be killed. {Rail fence}, a fence made of rails, sometimes supported by posts. {Ring fence}, a fence which encircles a large area, or a whole estate, within one inclosure. {Worm fence}, a zigzag fence composed of rails crossing one another at their ends; -- called also {snake fence}, or {Virginia rail fence}. {To be on the fence}, to be undecided or uncommitted in respect to two opposing parties or policies. [Colloq.]