fendn.
/fɛnd/, U.S. /fɛnd/, Scottish English /fɛnd/ Scottish and dialect.† 4. Nautical. = fender n. Obsolete.
1. A shift or effort which one makes for oneself. to make a fend: to make a venture.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > [noun] > risk > a risky undertaking
adventurec1300
venturea1566
adventry1616
risk1666
fenda1724
forlorn hope1768
long chance1854
salto mortale1896
crap shoot1958
a1724 Borrowstoun Mous in Ramsay Evergreen I. 144 Scho maid an easy Fen.
1790 R. Burns in J. Johnson Scots Musical Museum III. 306 I'm thinking, wi' sic a braw fellow, In poortith I might mak a fen.
a1810 R. Tannahill Poems (1846) 25 I think, through life I'll make a canny fen', Wi hurcheon Nancy.
1823 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well II. vii. 165 Out I wad be, and out John Blower gat me, but wi' nae sma' fight and fend.
1855 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Yorks. Words ‘They make a good fend for a living.’
1877 F. Ross et al. Gloss. Words Holderness ‘He disn't seem to mak a bit o' fend.’
2. Activity in making shifts for oneself, energy.
ΚΠ
1788 W. Marshall Provincialisms E. Yorks. in Rural Econ. Yorks. II. 328 Fend, activity, management, assiduity, prowess.
1876 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Words Whitby
3. Provisions, fare.
ΚΠ
1804 W. Tarras Poems 54 Nae sumptuous fend, but hamely food.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > other equipment of vessel > [noun] > fender
junk1528
puddinga1625
fender1626
fend1658
fend-bolt1678
bongrace1685
skid1743
pudding fender1883
sausage1968
1658 E. Phillips New World Eng. Words Fends, things hung over a Ships side to keep another Ship from rubbing against it.
Compounds
fend-bolt n. Nautical = fender n. 2b.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > other equipment of vessel > [noun] > fender
junk1528
puddinga1625
fender1626
fend1658
fend-bolt1678
bongrace1685
skid1743
pudding fender1883
sausage1968
1678 E. Phillips New World of Words (new ed.) Fenders, pieces of old Cables [etc.] ..hung over a Ships side..called also Fend-bolts.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Fend or Fender Bolts, made with long and thick heads, struck into the outermost bends or wales of a ship, to save her sides from hurts and bruises.
fend-full adj. Scottish full of shifts or expedients.
ΚΠ
1820 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Dec. 321 Else yere grown less fendfou than I ever saw ye.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
fendv.
/fɛnd/, U.S. /fɛnd/ 1.
a. transitive. = defend v. Now archaic or poetic.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > defend [verb (transitive)]
werea900
defendc1325
fendc1330
defencea1398
warrantise1490
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > protect or defend [verb (transitive)]
shieldc825
frithc893
werea900
i-schield971
berghOE
biwerec1000
grithc1000
witec1000
keepc1175
burghena1225
ward?c1225
hilla1240
warrantc1275
witiec1275
forhilla1300
umshadea1300
defendc1325
fendc1330
to hold in or to warrantc1330
bielda1350
warisha1375
succoura1387
defencea1398
shrouda1400
umbeshadow14..
shelvec1425
targec1430
protect?1435
obumber?1440
thorn1483
warrantise1490
charea1500
safeguard1501
heild?a1513
shend1530
warrant1530
shadow1548
fence1577
safekeep1588
bucklera1593
counterguard1594
save1595
tara1612
target1611
screenc1613
pre-arm1615
custodite1657
shelter1667
to guard against1725
cushion1836
enshield1855
mind1924
buffer1958
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 195 He com right son, Normundie to fende.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xxii. 46 He..fendede hem fro foule vueles.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 28851 Almus..fenddes his saul fra þe fend.
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 13 If þat we kunne fende him fro a fevere.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iv. l. 615 Wallace in Ire a burly brand can draw..To fende his men with his deyr-worthi hand.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 167 And said, ‘In feild go furth and fend the laif.’
1568 U. Fulwell Like wil to Like sig. B.iii Fend your heds sirs for I will to it once more.
1647 H. More Philos. Poems i. i. xxvii O heavenly Salems sons! you fend the right.
a1774 R. Fergusson Poems (1785) 137 My trees..Shall fend ye frae ilk blast o' wind.
1845 W. E. Frye tr. A. G. Oehlenschlager Gods of North 83 I only sought my realm to fend By wizard spell and mystic song.
1867 R. W. Emerson May-day & Other Pieces 76 Freedom..shall..fend you with his wing.
b. reflexive and intransitive for reflexive.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > defend [verb (reflexive)]
were993
fendc1330
fix1697
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > offer protection or defence [verb (intransitive)] > defend oneself
fend1573
to stand upon one's safeguard1577
shield1692
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > protect or defend [verb (reflexive)]
were993
keepc1175
skere1390
wait onc1390
shroud14..
mantlec1475
fend1865
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 216 Þo þat þer purueiance of Oxenford not held, With scheld & with lance fend him in þe feld.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 10142 The freike with a fauchon fendit hym well.
1573 J. Davidson Breif Commendatioun Vprichtnes xl. 196 How he suld fend from furie and thair fead.
1720 W. R. Chetwood Voy. Capt. R. Falconer ii. 64 What will come, will come, and there's no Fending against it.
1837 R. Nicoll Poems (1842) 17 To fend against the winter cauld The heather we will pu'.
1864 J. K. James tr. T. Tasso Jerusalem Deliv. (1865) II. xiv. xxiv An agent prompt to fend and to attack.
1865 S. Evans Brother Fabian's MSS 49 Goodman true, wouldst fend thyself From witchcraft and midnight elf?
2. intransitive. to fend and prove: to argue, wrangle.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > controversy, dispute, argument > contend, dispute, argue [verb (intransitive)]
flitec900
witherc1000
disputea1225
pleadc1275
strive1320
arguec1374
tolyc1440
toilc1450
wrestlec1450
altercate1530
disagree1534
dissent1538
contend1539
controvert1563
wrangle?1570
contestate?1572
to fend and prove?1578
contest1603
vie1604
controverse1605
discept1639
ergot1653
digladiatea1656
misprove1662
spar1698
argufy1804
spat1809
to cross swords1816
argle1823
to bandy words1828
polemize1828
controversialize1841
caffle1851
polemicize1881
ergotize1883
argy-bargy1887
cag1919
snack1956
?1578 W. Patten Let. Entertainm. Killingwoorth 23 Thus with fending & proouing, with pluckyng & tugging.
c1698 J. Locke Thoughts on Conduct of Understanding xxxi Being able to fend and prove with them.
1702 J. Vanbrugh False Friend 1 Instead of fending and proving with his mistress, he should come to..a..parrying and thrusting with you.
1721 J. Strype Eccl. Memorials II. xxviii. 478 That delighted not in fending and proving.
1855 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Yorks. Words 55 Fending and Proving, arguing and defending.
1877 E. Peacock Gloss. Words Manley & Corringham, Lincs. After fendin' an' provin' about summats.
3. absolute.c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 1191 Þay feȝt & þay fende of, & fylter togeder.1864 E. Sargent Peculiar III. 125 The man of nerve looks boldly at the danger and fends off accordingly.
a. To ward or keep off, turn aside, keep out or at a distance. Also, to fend back.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > escape > escape from [verb (transitive)] > ward off harm
withhold13..
defendc1330
to bear offc1380
withstand1398
shielda1400
repela1450
to keep off1548
repulse1560
warda1586
fence1589
shelter1621
ward1759
fend-off1830
to fend back1877
1575 G. Gascoigne Fruites of Warre clxiii, in Posies sig. Kiiv So might we..fend our foes, with blowes of English blade.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 110 With Fern beneath, to fend the bitter Cold. View more context for this quotation
1712 S. Centlivre Perplex'd Lovers i. ii. 4 You shall not want a friend to fend against that Blow.
1786 R. Burns Holy Fair ix, in Poems 44 Here stands a shed to fend the show'rs.
1804 W. Tarras Poems 22 To..fend the heat o' simmer blinter.
1823 G. Crabb Universal Technol. Dict. ‘Fend the boat’, prevent it striking against any thing.
1860 M. F. Maury Physical Geogr. Sea (ed. 8) ii. §143 Warm water..in contact with a cold non~conducting cushion of cold water to fend it from the bottom.
1876 R. D. Blackmore Cripps (1877) ii. 12 Fending the twigs from her eyes and bonnet.
1877 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of Crimea (ed. 6) VI. vi. 364 It enabled him to fend back the masses confronting him.
b. esp. with off.
ΚΠ
a1400–50 Alexander 1031 Þar a cite he assailes..Bot wees wiȝtly with-in þe wallis ascendid, Freschly fendid of & fersly with-stude.
1669 W. Penn No Cross, No Crown xx. §23 Do you think that Words will fend off the Blows of Eternal Vengeance?
1816 W. Scott Antiquary III. viii. 164 Ye had aye a good roof ower your head to fend aff the weather.
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. xiii. 254 Catch hold of the long boat-hook, and fend her [sc. the boat] off.
1865 D. Livingstone & C. Livingstone Narr. Exped. Zambesi xxiv. 481 A spoonful in hot water..to fend off a chill and fever.
4.
a. intransitive. To make an effort, strive or try to do something; to make a shift; to take precautions against. Scottish and dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > endeavour > make an attempt or endeavour [verb (intransitive)]
fanda1225
procurea1325
assay1370
workc1384
to put oneself in pressc1390
purchasec1400
buskc1450
study1483
fend15..
try1534
enterprise1547
to make an attempt?c1550
to give the venture1589
prove1612
nixuriate1623
to lay out1659
essay1715
to bring (also carry, drive, etc.) one's pigs to market1771
to have (or take or give) a crack1836
to make an out1843
to go to market1870
to give it a burl1917
to have a bash (at)1950
the world > action or operation > endeavour > make an attempt or endeavour [verb (intransitive)] > strive or struggle
hiec888
to stand inc1175
wrag?c1225
wrestle?c1225
stretcha1375
strivec1384
pressc1390
hitc1400
wring1470
fend15..
battle1502
contend?1518
reluct1526
flichter1528
touse1542
struggle1597
to lay in1599
strain?1606
stickle1613
fork1681
sprattle1786
buffet1824
fight1859
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > recourse > have recourse [verb (intransitive)] > make do with what is available
doc1300
scamble1608
to make the best of a bad bargain1670
shift1680
fenda1682
to do with ——1715
manage1762
to make do1927
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > vigilance > be vigilant or on one's guard [verb (intransitive)] > take precautions
fend1712
to cast an anchor to windward1919
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > vigilance > [verb (transitive)] > take precautions against
forfend1591
to arm against ——1598
secure1623
precaution1690
fend1712
15.. in Sibbald Chron. Scot. Poetry II. 46 Few for falsett now may fend.
a1682 F. Sempill Banishm. Poverty in J. Watson Choice Coll. Scots Poems (1706) i. 13 Then I knew no way how to fen.
1712 S. Centlivre Perplex'd Lovers iv. i. 41 We must fend against that.
1788 W. Marshall Provincialisms E. Yorks. in Rural Econ. Yorks. II. 328 Fend, to strive, as for a livelihood.
1792 R. Burns in J. Johnson Scots Musical Museum IV. 323 Semple-folk maun fecht and fen.
1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. iii. 57 I'd make a shift, and fend indoor and out, to give you more liberty.
1865 E. Waugh Lancs. Songs God bless him that fends for his livin', An' houds up his yed through it o'!
b. to fend for: to make shift for, look after, provide for. So in to fend for oneself. Chiefly dialect or colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > care, protection, or charge > care for, protect, or have charge of [verb (transitive)] > take care of or look after > specifically a person > attend to or act for the benefit of
seea1350
to see to ——a1382
sorrow1481
to see for ——c1500
to fend for1629
to see someone right1829
to see someone all right1840
1629 T. Jackson Treat. Divine Essence ii. 67 Nor doth..any other creatures..direct their brood in their motions, but leave them to fend for themselves.
1660 H. More Explan. Grand Myst. Godliness To Rdr. ¶26. p. xxiv They are such as..fend for themselves as well as they may.
1785 W. Hutton Bran New Wark 468 When the awner will not fend for his sell.
1787 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. I ha twa bairns to fend for.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian viii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. II. 210 Ane wad hae carried me through the warld, and friended me, and fended for me.
1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. x. 204 Lads, as could fend for theirsens.
c. = fare v.1 7. dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > be or remain in specific state or condition [verb (intransitive)] > fare or get on
farec1000
chevec1300
timea1325
do1340
hapc1350
thrive?a1366
ferea1375
walka1400
chevise14..
fortunea1513
tidec1540
fend1781
go1920
1781 J. Hutton Tour to Caves (ed. 2) Gloss. How fend you, how fare you?
1790 A. Wheeler Westmorland Dial. 95 I'd kna haw they fend all.
1792 R. Burns in J. Johnson Scots Musical Museum IV. 392 He met wi' the d-v-l, says, how do you fen?
1872 W. Black Strange Adventures Phaeton 23 ‘How fens tee, Jeck? gaily?’
5. transitive. = to fend for at sense 4b ( 4b). Hence, to provide sustenance for, support, maintain. Chiefly Scottish and dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > supply > provide or supply (something) [verb (transitive)] > provide means of support for
findc1225
sustainc1300
found1377
keep1377
maintainc1405
sustent?a1425
support1493
uphold1546
subsist1547
escota1616
fend1637
aliment1660
run1871
grub-stake1879
1637 S. Rutherford Lett. (1863) I. 223 Fend thyself, I will hold my grips of thee no longer.
1674 J. Ray N. Country Words To Fend; to shift for.
1786 R. Burns Poems 64 Gie them guid cow-milk their fill, Till they be fit to fend themsel.
1816 W. Scott Old Mortality v, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 94 They are puirly armed, and warse fended wi' victual.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > prohibition > prohibit [verb (transitive)]
forwarnc893
warnc893
forbidOE
forhightc1315
defendc1325
forfend1382
dischargec1450
prohibit?a1475
bidc1475
withsay1484
fenda1500
abara1504
prohibit1526
debara1529
forbodec1540
exempt1553
forspeak1565
disbar1567
forsay1579
enjoin1589
abjudicate1602
countermanda1616
forjudge1675
restrict1766
oppose1814
fen1823
embargo1824
nix1903
ixnay1937
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. ii. 13 I fend, Godys forbot, that euer thou thrife!
1888 F. T. Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk. (at cited word) Ee fain un vrum gwain pun eez graewn.
Derivatives
ˈfended adj.
ΚΠ
1867 R. W. Emerson May-day & Other Pieces 54 This Oreads' fended Paradise.
ˈfending adj.
ΚΠ
1883 T. Lees Easther's Gloss. Dial. Almondbury & Huddersfield Fending..industrious.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1658
v.c1330