'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]