fox

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A small-to-medium-sized canine mammal, related to dogs and wolves, with a flattened skull, upright triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail, of the following groups:

   A group of foxes is called a skulk.

2. 2
   noun

   A flying fox.

   Their screeches heralded excited talk from the hurrying troops, for flying fox is a delicacy. The densely-foliaged trees hedged a sombre pool, deep and quiet. As the slain foxes dropped into the water the snouts of river crocodiles popped up and devoured them.

3. 3
   noun

   A cunning person.

   As for thee, false friend, subtle fox, unfaithful servant, this long time am I grown weary of thee slinking up and down my palace devising darkly things I know not: thou, that art nought akin to Witchland, but an outlander, a Goblin exile, a serpent warmed in my bosom to my hurt.

4. 4
   noun

   A physically attractive person, typically a woman.

   And Jerry was cute, you know, I liked him, but Frank was a total fox. And he was rougher than Jerry, you know, not so cultured.

5. 5
   noun

   A hidden radio transmitter, finding which is the goal of radiosport.

   Locating a hidden transmitter (the fox) has been a popular ham activity for many years.

6. 6
   noun

   A sword; so called from the stamp of a fox on the blade, or perhaps of a wolf taken for a fox.

   Thou diest on point of fox.

7. 7
   noun

   Air-to-air weapon launched.

   Got a lock! Fox, Fox!

8. 8
   noun

   Someone who fuses many different influences and concepts in their philosophy or worldview.

   Austin was patiently and painstakingly concerned with truth within limitations. He was a hedgehog, not a fox.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *púḱsos Proto-Germanic *fuhsaz Old English fox Middle English fox English fox From Middle English fox, from Old English fox (“fox”), from Proto-West Germanic *fuhs, from Proto-Germanic *fuhsaz (“fox”), from Proto-Indo-European *púḱsos (“the tailed one”), possibly from *puḱ- (“tail”). Cognate with Scots fox (“fox”), North Frisian foos, fos (“fox”), Saterland Frisian Foaks (“fox”), West Frisian foks (“fox”), Dutch vos (“fox”), Low German vos (“fox”), German Fuchs (“fox”), Icelandic fóa (“fox”), Tocharian B päkā (“tail, chowrie”), Russian пух (pux, “down, fluff”…