zigzag fence
A split-rail fence stacked in a crooked zigzag, no posts required.
Also called worm fence, snake fence, Virginia fence, snake-rail fence.
Updated September 24, 2026
zigzag fence pronunciation
/ZIG-zag FENCE/
Meaning
A zigzag fence is split rails laid end to end in a wandering snake pattern so the corners brace each other. No dug posts, no nails. Old-time farm talk also calls it a worm fence, snake fence, or Virginia fence. On rocky Appalachian ground it was the fence you could throw up fast and move when the field lines changed.
How folks use it
- “They still got a zigzag fence holding the cows off the garden.”
- “That zigzag fence eats up more ground than a straight post-and-rail, but you can build it without a shovel.”
Origin and etymology
Brought into the American South and Appalachia by early settlers who had timber to burn and rocky soil that fought post holes. Also called worm, snake, or Virginia fence in farm and Civil War writing. Same idea as a stacked split-rail fence, just named for the crooked layout.
Frequently asked questions
Is a zigzag fence the same as a worm fence?
Yes. Worm fence, snake fence, and zigzag fence are names for the same stacked-rail style.