renard

fox

noun ruh-NAHR Rare

Origin: From the name 'Renard', protagonist of medieval fable 'Roman de Renart'

Usage Note

Renard displaced the older word goupil for 'fox' after the hugely popular 12th-century satirical epic Roman de Renart, where a clever fox named Renard outwits other animals. The female is une renarde and a young fox is un renardeau. Renard is also a common French surname.

Examples

"Un renard roux traverse le champ au crépuscule."

Natural Translation

A red fox crosses the field at dusk.

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