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==Etymology== The word ''fox'' comes from [[Old English language|Old English]] and derives from [[Proto-Germanic]] *''fuhsaz''.{{refn|group=nb|Cf. [[West Frisian language|West Frisian]] ''foks'', [[Dutch language|Dutch]] ''vos'', and [[German language|German]] ''Fuchs''.}} This in turn derives from [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] *''puḱ-'' "thick-haired, tail."{{refn|group=nb|Cf. [[Hindi]] ''pū̃ch'' 'tail', [[Tocharian B]] ''päkā'' 'tail; chowrie', and [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] ''paustìs'' 'fur'. The bushy tail forms the basis for the fox's [[Welsh language|Welsh]] name, ''llwynog'' 'bushy', from ''llwyn'' 'bush'. Likewise, {{langx|pt|raposa}} from ''rabo'' 'tail', Lithuanian ''uodẽgis'' from ''uodegà'' 'tail', and [[Ojibwe language|Ojibwa]] ''waagosh'' from ''waa'', which refers to the up-and-down "bounce" or flickering of an animal or its tail.}} Male foxes are [[List of animal names|known as]] ''dogs'', ''tods'', or ''[[reynard]]s''; females as ''vixens''; and young as ''cubs'', ''pups'', or ''kits'', though the last term is not to be confused with the [[kit fox]], a distinct species. "Vixen" is one of very few [[modern English]] words that retain the [[Middle English]] southern dialectal "v" pronunciation instead of "f"; i.e., northern English "fox" versus southern English "vox".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://historyofenglishpodcast.com/2018/06/27/episode-113-a-zouthern-accent/|title=Episode 113: A Zouthern Accent - The History of English Podcast|website=historyofenglishpodcast.com|date=28 June 2018|access-date=20 July 2018|archive-date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720233350/http://historyofenglishpodcast.com/2018/06/27/episode-113-a-zouthern-accent/|url-status=live}}</ref> A group of foxes is referred to as a ''skulk'', ''leash'', or ''earth''.<ref name="US Department of the Interior">{{cite web|last1=Fellows|first1=Dave|title=Animal Congregations, or What Do You Call a Group of.....?|url=http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/about/faqs/animals/names.htm|website=Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center|publisher=USGS|access-date=9 October 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320071411/http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/about/faqs/animals/names.htm|archive-date=20 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="new forest cub">{{cite web|url=http://www.newforestexplorersguide.co.uk/wildlife/mammals/foxes/family-life.html|website=New Forest Explorers Guide|title=Fox Cubs and the breeding cycle|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=13 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813095415/http://www.newforestexplorersguide.co.uk/wildlife/mammals/foxes/family-life.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
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