Fence vs. Pale — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 2, 2024
A fence is a structure built to enclose or divide an area, often made of posts and wire or wood, whereas a pale is a stake or pointed piece of wood used in fencing or as a boundary marker.
Difference Between Fence and Pale
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A fence is designed as a barrier that can be constructed from various materials including wood, metal, or vinyl, designed to provide privacy, security, or to mark property boundaries. On the other hand, a pale is a specific type of fencing component, typically a wood or metal stake, that contributes to the overall structure of some fences, particularly those made of pales or pickets.
The primary function of a fence is to secure an area, prevent trespassing, or protect privacy. In contrast, a pale serves mainly as a physical boundary marker, and its installation is part of larger fencing structures or can be used alone to demarcate lines.
Fences vary widely in design, from simple chain-link types to elaborately designed wooden privacy fences. Whereas, pales are uniform in shape but can vary in material and finish depending on their purpose and the type of fence they are part of.
Installation of a fence often requires careful planning regarding location, height, and material, in accordance with local zoning laws. Pales, however, are simpler in their setup but must be properly treated or chosen to withstand environmental elements if they are made of wood.
Maintenance of fences depends on the materials used; metal fences might need rust protection, while wooden fences require stain or paint. Pales made of wood also need similar maintenance to prevent decay, highlighting a shared concern in their upkeep.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A barrier constructed to enclose an area.
A stake or pointed wood used as a boundary marker.
Composition
Can be made of wood, metal, vinyl, or composite materials.
Typically made of wood or metal.
Purpose
Provides security, privacy, or property delineation.
Serves as a part of a fence or a boundary marker.
Installation
Requires planning for height, material, and compliance with laws.
Simpler installation, often part of larger structures.
Maintenance
Depends on material; may require paint, stain, or rust protection.
Wood pales require preventive treatments for longevity.
Compare with Definitions
Fence
Used to protect or delineate property.
The new fence marked the edge of their property.
Pale
Acts as a boundary marker.
Historical lands were often marked by simple pales.
Fence
Often built from wood, metal, or synthetic materials.
The metal fence lasted longer than the wooden one.
Pale
Made primarily from wood or metal.
The wooden pales blended well with the natural surroundings.
Fence
Requires maintenance like painting or repairs.
He painted the fence every few years to keep it looking new.
Pale
Requires treatment to resist rot and insects.
The pales were treated to resist termites and weathering.
Fence
Can be decorative or functional.
The decorative fence beautified the garden while providing a boundary.
Pale
A pointed stick or post used in fences.
The garden was surrounded by pales to keep out the rabbits.
Fence
A structure serving as a barrier.
They put up a tall fence to increase their backyard privacy.
Pale
Part of traditional picket fences.
The white pales of the picket fence were iconic to suburban homes.
Fence
A fence is a structure that encloses an area, typically outdoors, and is usually constructed from posts that are connected by boards, wire, rails or netting. A fence differs from a wall in not having a solid foundation along its whole length.Alternatives to fencing include a ditch (sometimes filled with water, forming a moat).
Pale
Light in colour or shade; containing little colour or pigment
Choose pale floral patterns for walls
Fence
A structure serving as an enclosure, a barrier, or a boundary, usually made of posts or stakes joined together by boards, wire, or rails.
Pale
Inferior or unimpressive
The new cheese is a pale imitation of continental cheeses
Fence
An adjustable guide with a flat edge used on a table saw and positioned parallel to the plane of the cutting attachment in order to keep the board properly positioned for the cut to be made at the correct distance from the board's edge.
Pale
Become pale in one's face from shock or fear
I paled at the thought of what she might say
Fence
One who receives and sells stolen goods.
Pale
Seem or become less important
All else pales by comparison
Fence
A place where stolen goods are received and sold.
Pale
A wooden stake or post used with others to form a fence.
Fence
(Archaic) A means of defense; a protection.
Pale
An area within determined bounds, or subject to a particular jurisdiction.
Fence
To surround or enclose with a fence or other barrier.
Pale
A broad vertical stripe down the middle of a shield.
Fence
To separate or keep out by means of a fence or other barrier
Fenced off one field from another.
Fenced out the deer from the garden.
Pale
A stake or pointed stick; a picket.
Fence
To sell (stolen goods) to a fence.
Pale
A fence enclosing an area.
Fence
To ward off; keep away.
Pale
The area enclosed by a fence or boundary.
Fence
To defend.
Pale
A region or district lying within an imposed boundary or constituting a separate jurisdiction.
Fence
To practice the art or sport of fencing.
Pale
Pale The medieval dominions of the English in Ireland. Used with the.
Fence
To avoid giving direct answers; hedge.
Pale
(Heraldry) A wide vertical band in the center of an escutcheon.
Fence
To act as a conduit for stolen goods.
Pale
To enclose with pales; fence in.
Fence
A thin artificial barrier that separates two pieces of land or forms a perimeter enclosing the lands of a house, building, etc.
Pale
To cause to turn pale.
Fence
(informal) Someone who hides or buys and sells stolen goods, a criminal middleman for transactions of stolen goods.
Pale
To become pale; blanch
Paled with fright.
Fence
(by extension) The place whence such a middleman operates.
Pale
To decrease in relative importance.
Fence
Skill in oral debate.
Pale
Whitish in complexion; pallid.
Fence
The art or practice of fencing.
Pale
Of a low intensity of color; light.
Fence
A guard or guide on machinery.
Pale
Having high lightness and low saturation.
Fence
(figuratively) A barrier, for example an emotional barrier.
Pale
Of a low intensity of light; dim or faint
"a late afternoon sun coming through the el tracks and falling in pale oblongs on the cracked, empty sidewalks" (Jimmy Breslin).
Fence
A memory barrier.
Pale
Feeble; weak
A pale rendition of the aria.
Fence
(transitive) To enclose, contain or separate by building fence.
Pale
Light in color.
I have pale yellow wallpaper.
She had pale skin because she didn't get much sunlight.
Fence
(transitive) To defend or guard.
Pale
(of human skin) Having a pallor (a light color, especially due to sickness, shock, fright etc.).
His face turned pale after hearing about his mother's death.
Fence
(transitive) To engage in the selling or buying of stolen goods.
Pale
Feeble, faint.
He is but a pale shadow of his former self.
The son's clumsy paintings are a pale imitation of his father's.
Fence
To engage in the sport of fencing.
Pale
(intransitive) To turn pale; to lose colour.
Fence
To jump over a fence.
Pale
(intransitive) To become insignificant.
Fence
(intransitive) To conceal the truth by giving equivocal answers; to hedge; to be evasive.
Pale
(transitive) To make pale; to diminish the brightness of.
Fence
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.
A fence betwixt us and the victor's wrath.
Pale
To enclose with pales, or as if with pales; to encircle or encompass; to fence off.
Fence
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.
Pale
(obsolete) Paleness; pallor.
Fence
A projection on the bolt, which passes through the tumbler gates in locking and unlocking.
Pale
A wooden stake; a picket.
Fence
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.
Of dauntless courage and consummate skill in fence.
Pale
(archaic) Fence made from wooden stake; palisade.
Fence
A receiver of stolen goods, or a place where they are received.
Pale
(by extension) Limits, bounds (especially before of).
Fence
To fend off danger from; to give security to; to protect; to guard.
To fence my ear against thy sorceries.
Pale
The bounds of morality, good behaviour or judgment in civilized company, in the phrase beyond the pale.
Fence
To inclose with a fence or other protection; to secure by an inclosure.
O thou wall! . . . dive in the earth,And fence not Athens.
A sheepcote fenced about with olive trees.
Pale
(heraldry) A vertical band down the middle of a shield.
Fence
To make a defense; to guard one's self of anything, as against an attack; to give protection or security, as by a fence.
Vice is the more stubborn as well as the more dangerous evil, and therefore, in the first place, to be fenced against.
Pale
(archaic) A territory or defensive area within a specific boundary or under a given jurisdiction.
Fence
To practice the art of attack and defense with the sword or with the foil, esp. with the smallsword, using the point only.
He will fence with his own shadow.
Pale
(historical) The parts of Ireland under English jurisdiction.
Fence
Hence, to fight or dispute in the manner of fencers, that is, by thrusting, guarding, parrying, etc.
They fence and push, and, pushing, loudly roar;Their dewlaps and their sides are bat ed in gore.
As when a billow, blown against,Falls back, the voice with which I fencedA little ceased, but recommenced.
Pale
(historical) The territory around Calais under English control (from the 14th to 16th centuries).
Fence
A barrier that serves to enclose an area
Pale
(historical) A portion of Russia in which Jews were permitted to live.
Fence
A dealer in stolen property
Pale
(archaic) The jurisdiction (territorial or otherwise) of an authority.
Fence
Enclose with a fence;
We fenced in our yard
Pale
A cheese scoop.
Fence
Receive stolen goods
Pale
Wanting in color; not ruddy; dusky white; pallid; wan; as, a pale face; a pale red; a pale blue.
Speechless he stood and pale.
They are not of complexion red or pale.
Fence
Fight with fencing swords
Pale
Not bright or brilliant; of a faint luster or hue; dim; as, the pale light of the moon.
The night, methinks, is but the daylight sick;It looks a little paler.
Fence
Surround with a wall in order to fortify
Pale
Paleness; pallor.
Fence
Have an argument about something
Pale
A pointed stake or slat, either driven into the ground, or fastened to a rail at the top and bottom, for fencing or inclosing; a picket.
Deer creep through when a pale tumbles down.
Pale
That which incloses or fences in; a boundary; a limit; a fence; a palisade.
Pale
A space or field having bounds or limits; a limited region or place; an inclosure; - often used figuratively.
Pale
A region within specified bounds, whether or not enclosed or demarcated.
Pale
A stripe or band, as on a garment.
Pale
One of the greater ordinaries, being a broad perpendicular stripe in an escutcheon, equally distant from the two edges, and occupying one third of it.
Pale
A cheese scoop.
Pale
A shore for bracing a timber before it is fastened.
Pale
To turn pale; to lose color or luster.
Apt to pale at a trodden worm.
Pale
To make pale; to diminish the brightness of.
The glowworm shows the matin to be near,And 'gins to pale his uneffectual fire.
Pale
To inclose with pales, or as with pales; to encircle; to encompass; to fence off.
[Your isle, which stands] ribbed and paled inWith rocks unscalable and roaring waters.
Pale
A wooden strip forming part of a fence
Pale
Turn pale, as if in fear
Pale
Very light colored; highly diluted with white;
Pale seagreen
Pale blue eyes
Pale
(of light) lacking in intensity or brightness; dim or feeble;
The pale light of a half moon
A pale sun
The late afternoon light coming through the el tracks fell in pale oblongs on the street
A pallid sky
The pale (or wan) stars
The wan light of dawn
Pale
Lacking in vitality or interest or effectiveness;
A pale rendition of the aria
Pale prose with the faint sweetness of lavender
A pallid performance
Pale
Abnormally deficient in color as suggesting physical or emotional distress;
The pallid face of the invalid
Her wan face suddenly flushed
Pale
Not full or rich;
High, pale, pure and lovely song
Common Curiosities
How is a pale different from a fence post?
A pale is a specific type of post, generally pointed and used within or as part of a fence.
What is the primary purpose of a fence?
To provide security, privacy, or to mark boundaries.
How often should metal fences be inspected for rust?
Metal fences should be inspected annually, especially in humid climates.
What is the typical height of a residential fence?
Residential fences typically range from 4 to 6 feet in height.
Can pales be replaced individually if damaged?
Yes, individual pales can usually be replaced without needing to alter the entire fence.
Can pales be used for purposes other than fencing?
Yes, pales can also serve as supports in gardening or as decorative elements.
What maintenance does a wooden fence require?
Wooden fences require staining or painting to protect against weathering and decay.
How do environmental factors affect fences and pales?
Both are subject to weathering, with wood needing more maintenance against rot and insects.
What materials are commonly used to make fences?
Wood, metal, vinyl, and sometimes composite materials.
Are there legal restrictions on the type of fence one can build?
Yes, local zoning laws often dictate the height, material, and placement of fences.
Do pales provide the same level of privacy as a full fence?
No, pales are spaced apart and offer less privacy compared to solid fencing.
Is it necessary to treat all wood fences and pales?
Yes, to extend their life and maintain their appearance, treatment is recommended.
What is the difference in cost between building a fence and setting up pales?
Setting up pales is generally cheaper than constructing a full fence, especially if the pales are part of a simpler structure.
Are there environmentally friendly options for fences and pales?
Yes, using recycled materials or sustainably sourced wood are environmentally friendly options.
Can fences be built without professional help?
Yes, but it depends on the complexity and size of the fence; simpler fences can be DIY projects.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
