a. Obs. [f. FOX sb. + -ISH.]
1. Of or pertaining to a fox, fox-like.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 196. Four different kinds of Leprosy are distinguished … 3. alopicia & vulpina foxissch.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. xxviii. 3. This foxish wylynesse. Ibid. (1583), Calvin on Deut. xxxvi. 215. If the fathers bee woolues, they would haue their Children wooluish: if they bee olde foxes, they would haue them to bee foxish: & if they be serpentes, they would haue their linage and ofspring like themselues.
2. fig. Like a fox in nature, crafty, cunning.
14[?]. Lydg. in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866), 25. Among foxys be foxische of nature.
1535. Joye, Apol. Tindale, 44. By his foxisshe ensample he pretendeth as thoughe I shulde steale awaye his gloriouse name for the translacion.
1699. T. C[ockman], Tully’s Offices (1706), 273. Your shifting, sly, cunning, deceitful, roguish, crafty, foxish, juggling kind of Fellows.
