Fox brush

Fox \Fox\ (f[o^]ks), n.; pl. {Foxes}. [AS. fox; akin to D. vos,
   G. fuchs, OHG. fuhs, foha, Goth. fa['u]h[=o], Icel. f[=o]a
   fox, fox fraud; of unknown origin, cf. Skr. puccha tail. Cf.
   {Vixen}.]
   1. (Zool.) A carnivorous animal of the genus {Vulpes}, family
      {Canid[ae]}, of many species. The European fox ({V.
      vulgaris} or {V. vulpes}), the American red fox ({V.
      fulvus}), the American gray fox ({V. Virginianus}), and
      the arctic, white, or blue, fox ({V. lagopus}) are
      well-known species.
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   Note: The black or silver-gray fox is a variety of the
         American red fox, producing a fur of great value; the
         cross-gray and woods-gray foxes are other varieties of
         the same species, of less value. The common foxes of
         Europe and America are very similar; both are
         celebrated for their craftiness. They feed on wild
         birds, poultry, and various small animals.
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               Subtle as the fox for prey.        --Shak.
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   2. (Zool.) The European dragonet.
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   3. (Zool.) The fox shark or thrasher shark; -- called also
      {sea fox}. See {Thrasher shark}, under {Shark}.
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   4. A sly, cunning fellow. [Colloq.]
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            We call a crafty and cruel man a fox. --Beattie.
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   5. (Naut.) Rope yarn twisted together, and rubbed with tar;
      -- used for seizings or mats.
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   6. A sword; -- so called from the stamp of a fox on the
      blade, or perhaps of a wolf taken for a fox. [Obs.]
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            Thou diest on point of fox.           --Shak.
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   7. pl. (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians which, with the Sacs,
      formerly occupied the region about Green Bay, Wisconsin;
      -- called also {Outagamies}.
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   {Fox and geese}.
      (a) A boy's game, in which one boy tries to catch others
          as they run one goal to another.
      (b) A game with sixteen checkers, or some substitute for
          them, one of which is called the fox, and the rest the
          geese; the fox, whose first position is in the middle
          of the board, endeavors to break through the line of
          the geese, and the geese to pen up the fox.

   {Fox bat} (Zool.), a large fruit bat of the genus {Pteropus},
      of many species, inhabiting Asia, Africa, and the East
      Indies, esp. {P. medius} of India. Some of the species are
      more than four feet across the outspread wings. See {Fruit
      bat}.

   {Fox bolt}, a bolt having a split end to receive a fox wedge.
      

   {Fox brush} (Zool.), the tail of a fox.

   {Fox evil}, a disease in which the hair falls off; alopecy.
      

   {Fox grape} (Bot.), the name of two species of American
      grapes. The northern fox grape ({Vitis Labrusca}) is the
      origin of the varieties called {Isabella}, {Concord},
      {Hartford}, etc., and the southern fox grape ({Vitis
      vulpina}) has produced the {Scuppernong}, and probably the
      {Catawba}.

   {Fox hunter}.
      (a) One who pursues foxes with hounds.
      (b) A horse ridden in a fox chase.

   {Fox shark} (Zool.), the thrasher shark. See {Thrasher
      shark}, under {Thrasher}.

   {Fox sleep}, pretended sleep.

   {Fox sparrow} (Zool.), a large American sparrow ({Passerella
      iliaca}); -- so called on account of its reddish color.

   {Fox squirrel} (Zool.), a large North American squirrel
      ({Sciurus niger}, or {S. cinereus}). In the Southern
      States the black variety prevails; farther north the
      fulvous and gray variety, called the {cat squirrel}, is
      more common.

   {Fox terrier} (Zool.), one of a peculiar breed of terriers,
      used in hunting to drive foxes from their holes, and for
      other purposes. There are rough- and smooth-haired
      varieties.

   {Fox trot}, a pace like that which is adopted for a few
      steps, by a horse, when passing from a walk into a trot,
      or a trot into a walk.

   {Fox wedge} (Mach. & Carpentry), a wedge for expanding the
      split end of a bolt, cotter, dowel, tenon, or other piece,
      to fasten the end in a hole or mortise and prevent
      withdrawal. The wedge abuts on the bottom of the hole and
      the piece is driven down upon it. Fastening by fox wedges
      is called foxtail wedging.

   {Fox wolf} (Zool.), one of several South American wild dogs,
      belonging to the genus {Canis}. They have long, bushy
      tails like a fox.
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