foxing
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
When one actor criticises another’s performance.—Theatrical. Also in street slang FOXING means watching slyly.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “foxing” mean?
When one actor criticises another’s performance.—Theatrical. Also in street slang FOXING means watching slyly.
Is “foxing” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.