foxen

English

Etymology 1

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form. By surface analysis, fox +‎ -en (plural ending).

Noun

foxen

1. (rare, nonstandard or dialectal) plural of fox
   • 1865, Practical Lessons on Hunting and Sporting, page 45:

     “Oh! is hur wull—I know hur run dro' the hedge, and I'll put summit ther to stop the traffic; foxen be but warmints a'ter all's said and done, and I'll hae the ould chap's brush afore to-morrow night.”

   • 1885, Thomas Mozley, Reminiscences, Chiefly of Towns, Villages and Schools:

     Do they still read in the Bible before them, 'The foxen have holes, and the birds of the air have nestis,' as they then did?

   • 1935, Punch, volume 189, page 454:

     What a jolly run for our money!
     How I don't like foxen!
     Over we go, boys!
     Joiks!

   • 2007, Richard Lederer, Word Wizard, page 124:

     “Well, young fella, times were hard for a spell. Almost every night them danged foxen were raiding my henhice.” “Excuse me, sir,” I interjected. “Don't you mean foxes?” “Nope, I don't,” Pluribus replied. “I use oxen to plow my fields, so it's foxen that I'm trying to get rid of.”

   • 2012, Jenny Lawson, Let's Pretend This Never Happened:

     Victor and I are having a huge argument about whether or not to feed the foxen. Victor says yes, because they're adorable and— according to the neighbors—are quite tame. I say no, because we have a fat little pug who likes to frolic outside occasionally and I don't want to see him eaten. I thought we were on the same page about the fox, but then Victor went and threw an apple at it. And I was all, “What the fuck? We don't feed the foxen,” and he said, “I was throwing the apple at it to chase it away,” but Victor is a tremendous liar, and he didn't go to pick up the apple, probably because he knows that foxen love apple cider.

   • 2013, Margaret L Carter, Dame Onyx Treasures:

     The man snorted. “Can't even get any peace on top of a mountain. Bad enough I have to put up with the bloody foxen eating my hens and that blasted eagle trying to snatch lambs.” Rolf arched an eyebrow. “Foxen?” Carrie shrugged. “Sure, plural of fox. Ox, oxen, fox, foxen.”

Etymology 2

From fox +‎ -en (having the qualities of).

Adjective

foxen (comparative more foxen, superlative most foxen)

1. (rare) Of or pertaining to foxes.
   • 1652, W. B., Experiences and Tears‎^[1]:

     I Did then […] obſserve one Main Advantage that the Foxen Generation, and all the Twiſting brood of Snakes and Serpents (attendants in chief upon the Fox his ſubtilty) did and do enjoy before any Beaſt of prey (or of labour either) in the Wilderneſs.

   • 1806 April 12, The Companion and Weekly Miscellany 1806-04-12: Vol 2 Iss 24‎^[2]:

     Behind a foxen muff enormous?

   • 1852, Hanka, Václav, 1791-1861, Linda, Josef, 1789-1834, Manuscript of the Queen's Court‎^[3]:

     True hands they gave and took / And down beneath, with foxen eyes / On the king's host they look.

Galician

Verb

foxen

1. third-person plural present indicative of fuxir