Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- a name given to the fox, originally in the medieval beast epic Reynard the Fox.
noun
- a name for a fox, used in medieval tales, fables, etc
quasi-proper name for a fox, c.1300, from Old French Renart, Reynard name of the fox in Roman de Renart, from Old High German personal name Reginhart “strong in counsel,” literally “counsel-brave.” The first element is related to reckon, the second to hard. Cf. Old French renardie “craftiness.” The tales were so popular that the name became the word for “fox” in Old French.