[lit-ideas] Martis Defensio/Offensio: The Shield and The Arrow

 
Have you noticed the symbol for 'male' as opposed to 'female'.
The female symbol is supposed to represent the hand mirror of Venus.
The male symbol is supposed to represent Ares -- his shield and  spear.
I always thought that the shield was the 'defensio', and the spear the  
'offensio'.
But apparently, and thanks to this query by D. Ritchie, I realise that the  
spear, or sword, is just as associated with defense and fencing is -- but then  
perhaps 'fence' is apeth. for 
BOTH de-fense and of-fense!
 
 
"When will JLS be out of the swimming pool, does one suppose?"
 
Ah, that was a nice, warm bath. Anway, I hope the post makes it ontime, and  
is of help.
I think the first quote for 'fencing' as in around fields is 1495. 
It would all be Griceanly implicaturally connected with DE- or  OF-fensio.
Good luck at your talk, and keep us posted.

Cheers,

JL Speranza
   Buenos Aires, Argentina
 
---
 
"Here's a question for someone will good  access to a complete OED, something 
I don't have at present: why, or perhaps  more accurately, how was it that 
the word in English for the  thing that surrounds a field, yard or garden and 
the genteel play of  swords both came to be called "fencing"? Do they have 
things in common  or is this a coincidence?"
 
----
 
fence, from DEFENCE  (apeth. cf. 'lure' apeth of 'veLOUR')
 
1330 R.  BRUNNE  Chron. Wace (Rolls)  8638 en Octa studied in his ought: To 
stonde to fens auailled  nought. 1375  BARBOUR Bruce xx. 384 That for default  
of fenss so was To-fruschit in-to placis ser. 1430 Syr Tryam. 551 He stode at 
fence  ageyne them. 1400 Alexander 4753 For nouthire fondis he to flee ne na 
fens made. 1500 Felon Sowe Rokeby in Whitaker  Craven (1878) 569 Yet, for the  
fence that he colde make, Scho strake yt  fro his hande.1425 WYNTOUN Cron. IX. 
xxi. 12  e Hous of fens of Dalwolsy. 1463  Mann. & Househ. Exp. (1841) 158 
Ffusten..ffor to make doblettys off ffence. c1470  HENRY Wallace v. 1095 No man 
of fens  is left that house within. 1488  Will of Sharnebourne (Somerset Ho.), 
Doblette of fence. 1514  Will of R. Peke of Wkd. 4 June,  All my cottes of 
fense of manse body. 1555  Reg. Gild Corp. Christi York (Surtees) 202 My coote 
of fenst, and steele cappe. 1664  Flodden F. I. 5 Each house of  fence to 
fortify.1533 UDALL Flowres Latine Speaking (1560) 133 Disciplina gladiatoria, 
is..the waie of trainyng men  in..the schooles that maisters of fence keepe. 
1535  
in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxford 131 Dennys, a poore scholler and a teacher 
of fence. 1599  SHAKES. Much Ado V. i. 75 Ile proue it  on his body..Despight 
his nice fence. 1651  HOBBES Leviath. I. v. 22 Trusting to  the false rules 
of a master of Fence. 1828  SCOTT F.M. Perth iv, A man must know  his fence, or 
have a short lease of his life. 1831  Examiner 17/2 He will point his  sword 
at shadows, and make fence at your cat. 1855  MACAULAY Hist. Eng. IV. 459 A 
man  of..consummate skill in fence. 




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