What is "ring fence"

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.

   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. ``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.]

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. ``The road was an institution, the ring was an institution.'' --Thackeray. 5. A circular group of persons. And hears the Muses in a ring Aye round about Jove's alter sing. --Milton. 6. (Geom.)

1. The plane figure included between the circumferences of two concentric circles.

2. 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["o]l.), the ring ousel. Ring canal (Zo["o]l.), the circular water tube which surrounds the esophagus of echinoderms. Ring dotterel, or Ringed dotterel. (Zo["o]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["o]l.) See Ousel. Ring parrot (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of Old World parrakeets having a red ring around the neck, especially Pal[ae]ornis torquatus, common in India, and Pal[ae]ornis Alexandri of Java. Ring plover. (Zo["o]l.)

   1. The ringed dotterel.

   2. Any one of several small American plovers having a dark ring around the neck, as the semipalmated plover ( [AE]gialitis semipalmata). Ring snake (Zo["o]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["o]l.), the ring ousel. The prize ring, the ring in which prize fighters contend; prize fighters, collectively. The ring.

      1. The body of sporting men who bet on horse races.

      2. The prize ring.