fox

Where does the word "fox" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic fuhsaz, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

Fox’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: fuhsaz meant “fox.” Perhaps 'the tailed one', related to Sanskrit 'puccha', tail. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as fox. The foxglove was already 'foxes glofa' in Old English; its female 'vixen' keeps an old southern 'v' pronunciation. It reached English by 1500s as fox. The soldier's 'foxhole' dates from the First World War. Today, fox means a wild animal of the dog family with a bushy tail.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient fuhsaz "fox", perhaps 'the tailed one', related to Sanskrit 'puccha', tail.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s fox "fox", the foxglove was already 'foxes glofa' in Old English; its female 'vixen' keeps an old southern 'v' pronunciation.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s fox "fox", the soldier's 'foxhole' dates from the First World War.