Fóa

Old Norse Dictionary - fóa

Meaning of Old Norse word "fóa" in English.

As defined by the Cleasby & Vigfusson Old Norse to English dictionary:

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.

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark:ᚠᚢᛅ
Younger Futhark runes were used from 8th to 12th centuries in Scandinavia and their overseas settlements

Abbreviations used:

etym.: etymology.

f.: feminine.

Goth.: Gothic.

Icel.: Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.

l.: line.

m.: masculine.

n.: neuter.

O. H. G.: Old High German.

Works & Authors cited:

Edda: Edda. (C. I.)

➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

Also available in related dictionaries:

This headword also appears in dictionaries of other languages descending from Old Norse.