Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Fox \Fox\, n.; pl. {Foxes}. [AS. fox; akin to D. vos, G. fuchs,
   OHG. fuhs, foha, Goth. fa['u]h?, Icel. f?a fox, fox fraud; of
   unknown origin, cf. Skr. puccha tail. Cf. {Vixen}.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) 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.

   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.

               Subtle as the fox for prey.        --Shak.

   2. (Zo["o]l.) The European dragonet.

   3. (Zo["o]l.) The fox shark or thrasher shark; -- called also
      {sea fox}. See {Thrasher shark}, under {Shark}.

   4. A sly, cunning fellow. [Colloq.]

            We call a crafty and cruel man a fox. --Beattie.

   5. (Naut.) Rope yarn twisted together, and rubbed with tar;
      -- used for seizings or mats.

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

            Thou diest on point of fox.           --Shak.

   7. pl. (Enthnol.) A tribe of Indians which, with the Sacs,
      formerly occupied the region about Green Bay, Wisconsin;
      -- called also {Outagamies}.

   {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} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), the thrasher shark. See {Thrasher
      shark}, under {Thrasher}.

   {Fox sleep}, pretended sleep.

   {Fox sparrow} (Zo["o]l.), a large American sparrow
      ({Passerella iliaca}); -- so called on account of its
      reddish color.

   {Fox squirrel} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), 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.