# What is the etymology of the word fence as it pertains to stolen goods?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-etymology-of-the-word-fence-as-it-pertains-to-stolen-goods/361815>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 23, 2006, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-etymology-of-the-word-fence-as-it-pertains-to-stolen-goods/361815 "2006-06-23T02:23:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-etymology-of-the-word-fence-as-it-pertains-to-stolen-goods/361815/1 "2006-06-23T02:23:32Z")

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That’s the question, really. How did “fence” come to mean “sell stolen goods”? I did a search on it but all I found were posts on real fences and about fencing goods, nothing about the word itself. Wiki, Urban Dictionary, and [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) all don’t have a clue though they all mention this other definition.

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-etymology-of-the-word-fence-as-it-pertains-to-stolen-goods/361815/2 "2006-06-23T03:30:47Z")

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Always try the [Online Etymology Dictionary](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=fence&searchmode=none) for origin questions.

> [@](#):
>
> c.1330, shortening of defens (see defense). Spelling alternated between -c- and -s- in M.E. Sense of “enclosure” is first recorded 1512. Fencible (c.1325) means “capable of making a defense.” Sense of “dealer in stolen goods” is thieves’ slang, first attested c.1700, from notion of such transactions taking place under defense of secrecy. To be figuratively on the fence “uncommitted” is from 1828, from the notion of spectators at a fight.