snake-fence

A wooden snake-fence winds through the green pasture.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of fence made of split logs or rails laid in a zigzag pattern, with the ends of each section overlapping and resting on the next, without posts driven into the ground. This design allows the fence to stand without nails or other fasteners.

Usage Examples

• (A zigzag fence made from stacked logs.)
• (A historical fencing style.)

Advanced Usage

• "snake-fence" as a descriptive term: The name comes from the fence's serpentine shape, which resembles the movement of a snake.
  • The property line was marked by a weathered snake-fence, its rails sagging with age. (The fence's zigzag pattern is visually compared to a snake.)

Variants and Related Words

• Snake rail fence (n): an alternative name for the same structure.
  • They repaired the snake rail fence after the storm. (Same concept as snake-fence.)
• Worm fence (n): another regional term for a snake-fence, referring to its winding shape.
  • The old worm fence was still standing in the back field. (A synonym for snake-fence.)

Synonyms

• Zigzag fence: a fence built in a series of angled segments.
• Virginia fence: a historical term used in the southern United States.

Related Idioms

• No common idioms are associated specifically with "snake-fence."

Notes on Usage

• The word "snake-fence" is primarily used in historical or rural contexts, especially in North America. It is a compound noun that refers to a specific construction technique, not a fence for containing snakes.