The fence meaning dates from the early 14th century. This was influenced by the term English Pale , which referred to a territory under English jurisdiction within another land. There were districts in France, Scotland, and most importantly in this discussion, Ireland, which were known as the English Pale . That area in Ireland, which existed in the 14th century, was also known more simply as the Pale . We also hear of pales with respect to certain districts and provinces where Jews in Russia were required to live between 1791 and 1917.
Hot dog has an amusing etymology.
Do please, if you know something about this word, let me know. The etymology of hobbit is very interesting, despite the fact that it is a recently invented word. For more information on hobbits visit The Hobbit Page . I know it has a Spanish origin, but I need to know what the original word was and how it is pronounced. The word doesn't actually appear in writing before the 20th century, but one source suspects it was around long before then, spoken by people near the United States' border with Mexico.