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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Squirrel \Squir"rel\ (skw[~e]r"r[e^]l or skw[i^]r"-; 277), n.
[OE. squirel, OF. esquirel, escurel, F. ['e]cureuil, LL.
squirelus, squirolus, scuriolus, dim. of L. sciurus, Gr.
si`oyros; skia` shade + o'yra` tail. Cf. Shine, v. i.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of small rodents
belonging to the genus Sciurus and several allied genera
of the family Sciuridae. Squirrels generally have a
bushy tail, large erect ears, and strong hind legs. They
are commonly arboreal in their habits, but many species
live in burrows.
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Note: Among the common North American squirrels are the gray
squirrel (Sciurus Carolinensis) and its black
variety; the fox, or cat, squirrel (Sciurus cinereus,
or Sciurus niger) which is a large species, and
variable in color, the southern variety being
frequently black, while the northern and western
varieties are usually gray or rusty brown; the red
squirrel (see Chickaree); the striped, or chipping,
squirrel (see Chipmunk); and the California gray
squirrel (Sciurus fossor). Several other species
inhabit Mexico and Central America. The common European
species (Sciurus vulgaris) has a long tuft of hair on
each ear. The so-called Australian squirrels are
marsupials. See Petaurist, and Phalanger.
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2. One of the small rollers of a carding machine which work
with the large cylinder.
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Barking squirrel (Zool.), the prairie dog.
Federation squirrel (Zool.), the striped gopher. See
Gopher, 2.
Flying squirrel (Zool.). See Flying squirrel, in the
Vocabulary.
Java squirrel. (Zool.). See Jelerang.
Squirrel corn (Bot.), a North American herb (Dicentra
Canadensis) bearing little yellow tubers.
Squirrel cup (Bot.), the blossom of the Hepatica triloba,
a low perennial herb with cup-shaped flowers varying from
purplish blue to pink or even white. It is one of the
earliest flowers of spring.
Squirrel fish. (Zool.)
(a) A sea bass (Serranus fascicularis) of the Southern
United States.
(b) The sailor's choice (Diplodus rhomboides).
(c) The redmouth, or grunt.
(d) A market fish of Bermuda (Holocentrum Ascensione).
Squirrel grass (Bot.), a pestiferous grass (Hordeum
murinum) related to barley. In California the stiffly
awned spikelets work into the wool of sheep, and into the
throat, flesh, and eyes of animals, sometimes even
producing death.
Squirrel hake (Zool.), a common American hake (Phycis
tenuis); -- called also white hake.
Squirrel hawk (Zool.), any rough-legged hawk; especially,
the California species Archibuteo ferrugineus.
Squirrel monkey. (Zool.)
(a) Any one of several species of small, soft-haired South
American monkeys of the genus Callithrix. They are
noted for their graceful form and agility. See
Teetee.
(b) A marmoset.
Squirrel petaurus (Zool.), a flying phalanger of Australia.
See Phalanger, Petaurist, and Flying phalanger under
Flying.
Squirrel shrew (Zool.), any one of several species of East
Indian and Asiatic insectivores of the genus Tupaia.
They are allied to the shrews, but have a bushy tail, like
that of a squirrel.
Squirrel-tail grass (Bot.), a grass (Hordeum jubatum)
found in salt marshes and along the Great Lakes, having a
dense spike beset with long awns.
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