fend vb
1 to give support (to someone, esp. oneself); provide (for)
2 to ward off or turn aside (blows, questions, attackers, etc.)
3 tr
Archaic to defend or resist
4 (Scot. and northern English)
dialect to struggle; strive n
5 (Scot. and northern English)
dialect a shift or effort
(C13 fenden, shortened from defenden to defend)