fóa

u, f. a fox; this curious word, which answers to Goth. fauhô, O. H. G. foha, only occurs in Edda (Gl.), unless the present Icel. tóa (the common name for a fox) be a corruption of fóa; if not, the etym. of tóa is quite uncertain. It is a common superstition not to call the fox by his right name, whence the variety of names in different languages, and number of synonymes in the same language.