1. [n]  edging consisting of hanging threads or tassels
2. [n]  a part of the city far removed from the center; "they built a factory on the outskirts of the city"
3. [n]  the outside boundary or surface of something
4. [v]  decorate with or as if with a surrounding fringe; "fur fringed the hem of the dress"
5. [v]  adorn with a fringe

1. \Fringe\, n. [OF, fringe, F. frange, prob. fr. L. fimbria
   fiber, thread, fringe, cf. fibra fiber, E. fiber, fimbriate.]
   1. An ornamental appendage to the border of a piece of stuff,
      originally consisting of the ends of the warp, projecting
      beyond the woven fabric; but more commonly made separate
      and sewed on, consisting sometimes of projecting ends,
      twisted or plaited together, and sometimes of loose
      threads of wool, silk, or linen, or narrow strips of
      leather, or the like.
   2. 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.
   3. (Opt.) One of a number of light or dark bands, produced by
      the interference of light; a diffraction band; -- called
      also interference fringe.
   4. (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.
   

2. \Fringe\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fringed}; p. pr. & vb. a.
   {Fringing}.]
   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}.
   

C. Katz, GE, 1961. Subcomponent of GE-255 GECOM system. Sorting and merging of data, reports and file maintenance.