from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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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