Etymology
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fender (n.)

late 13c., shortening of defender. Originally something hung over the side to protect the hull of a ship at a wharf, pier, etc. Of fireplaces since 1680s; of automobiles from 1919. Fender-bender "minor automobile accident" is from 1958.

Entries linking to fender

defender (n.)

c. 1300, defendour, "one who protects from injury a champion" (early 13c. as a surname), via Anglo-French from Old French defendeor, agent noun from defendre (see defend). The Latin word in this sense was defensor.

fence (n.)
early 14c., "action of defending, resistance; means of protection, fortification," shortening of defens (see defense). The same pattern also yielded fend, fender; and obsolete fensive "defensive" (late 16c.). Spelling alternated between -c- and -s- in Middle English. Sense of "enclosure" is first recorded mid-15c. on notion of "that which serves as 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, perhaps from the notion of spectators at a fight, or a simple literal image: "A man sitting on the top of a fence, can jump down on either side with equal facility." [Bartlett, "Dictionary of Americanisms," 1848].
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Definitions of fender

fender (n.)
a barrier that surrounds the wheels of a vehicle to block splashing water or mud;
in Britain they call a fender a wing
Synonyms: wing
fender (n.)
an inclined metal frame at the front of a locomotive to clear the track;
Synonyms: buffer / cowcatcher / pilot
fender (n.)
a low metal guard to confine falling coals to a hearth;
fender (n.)
a cushion-like device that reduces shock due to an impact;
Synonyms: buffer
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near fender

fence

fencer

fencible

fencing

fend

fender

fenestral

fenestration

feng shui

Fenian

fennec

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