fox's paw
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A mistake; a blunder.
Register: archaic, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
The vulgar pronunciation of the French words faux pas. He made a confounded fox's paw.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “fox's paw” mean?
A mistake; a blunder.
Is “fox's paw” formal or informal?
fox's paw is generally archaic, slang.