'Ring fence' definitions:

Definition of 'Ring fence'

From: GCIDE
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • Upon his thumb he had of gold a ring. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • The dearest ring in Venice will I give you. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. A circular area in which races are or run or other sports are performed; an arena. [1913 Webster]
  • Place me, O, place me in the dusty ring, Where youthful charioteers contend for glory. --E. Smith. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. An inclosed space in which pugilists fight; hence, figuratively, prize fighting. "The road was an institution, the ring was an institution." --Thackeray. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. A circular group of persons. [1913 Webster]
  • And hears the Muses in a ring Aye round about Jove's alter sing. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. (Bot.) An elastic band partly or wholly encircling the spore cases of ferns. See Illust. of Sporangium. [1913 Webster]
  • 9. A clique; an exclusive combination of persons for a selfish purpose, as to control the market, distribute offices, obtain contracts, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • The ruling ring at Constantinople. --E. A. Freeman. [1913 Webster]
  • Ring armor, armor composed of rings of metal. See {Ring mail}, below, and Chain mail, under Chain.
  • Ring blackbird (Zool.), the ring ousel.
  • Ring canal (Zool.), the circular water tube which surrounds the esophagus of echinoderms.
  • Ring dotterel, or Ringed dotterel. (Zool.) 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. (Zool.) See Ousel.
  • Ring parrot (Zool.), any one of several species of Old World parrakeets having a red ring around the neck, especially Palaeornis torquatus, common in India, and Palaeornis Alexandri of Java.
  • Ring plover. (Zool.) (a) The ringed dotterel. (b) Any one of several small American plovers having a dark ring around the neck, as the semipalmated plover (Aegialitis semipalmata).
  • Ring snake (Zool.), 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 (Zool.), 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. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Ring fence'

From: GCIDE
  • Fence \Fence\ (f[e^]ns), n. [Abbrev. from defence.]
  • 1. That which fends off attack or danger; a defense; a protection; a cover; security; shield. [1913 Webster]
  • Let us be backed with God and with the seas, Which he hath given for fence impregnable. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • A fence betwixt us and the victor's wrath. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: In England a hedge, ditch, or wall, as well as a structure of boards, palings, or rails, is called a fence. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Locks) A projection on the bolt, which passes through the tumbler gates in locking and unlocking. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • Enjoy your dear wit, and gay rhetoric, That hath so well been taught her dazzing fence. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • Of dauntless courage and consummate skill in fence. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. A receiver of stolen goods, or a place where they are received. [Slang] --Mayhew. [1913 Webster]
  • Fence month (Forest Law), the month in which female deer are fawning, when hunting is prohibited. --Bullokar.
  • Fence roof, a covering for defense. "They fitted their shields close to one another in manner of a fence roof." --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.] [1913 Webster]