Fox
/fɒks/noun
A small to medium-sized wild canid with a pointed muzzle and bushy tail.
Did you know?The English word fox descends from a Proto-Germanic animal name, and its ancient relatives are found across Germanic languages, showing how long this sly little hunter has haunted human speech.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pūks- / *peuk-
“A proposed prehistoric root connected by some scholars to thick hair or tail; the exact origin is uncertain.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*fuhsaz
“Fox.”
Old English
OE
fox
“Fox.”
Middle English
ME
fox
“Fox.”
Modern English
English
fox
“Fox.”