fox

English

/fɒks/, /fɑks/

noun
Definitions
  • A red fox, small carnivore (Vulpes vulpes), related to dogs and wolves, with red or silver fur and a bushy tail.
  • Any of numerous species of small wild canids resembling the red fox. In the taxonomy they form the tribe Vulpini within the family Canidae, consisting of nine genera (see the article on the fox).
  • The fur of a fox.
  • A fox terrier.
  • The , a fish, , so called from its yellow color.
  • A cunning person.
  • (slang) A physically attractive man or woman.
  • (nautical) A small strand of rope made by twisting several rope-yarns together. Used for seizings, mats, sennits, and gaskets.
  • (mechanics) A wedge driven into the split end of a bolt to tighten it.
  • A hidden radio transmitter, finding which is the goal of radiosport.
  • (cartomancy) The fourteenth Lenormand card.
  • (obsolete) A sword; so called from the stamp of a fox on the blade, or perhaps of a wolf taken for a fox.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English fox inherited from Old English fox (fox) inherited from Proto-Germanic *fuhsaz (fox) inherited from Proto-Indo-European *púḱsos (the tailed one).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*púḱsos

Gloss

the tailed one

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms