What does "fringe" mean?

Fringe: Something resembling in any respect a fringe; a line of objects along a border or edge; a border; an edging; a margin; a confine. The confines of grace and the fringes of repentance. Jer. Taylor.

Additional senses

  1. 2.(Opt.) One of a number of light or dark bands, produced by the interference of light; a diffraction band; -- called also interference fringe.
  2. 3.(Bot.) The peristome or fringelike appendage of the capsules of most mosses. See Peristome. Fringe tree (Bot.), a small tree (Chionanthus Virginica), growing in the Southern United States, and having snow- white flowers, with long pendulous petals.
  3. 4.To adorn the edge of with a fringe or as with a fringe. Precipices fringed with grass. Bryant. Fringing reef. See Coral reefs, under Coral.

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