# foxing

Pronunciation: say "FOKS-ing" US /ˈfɑksɪŋ/, UK /ˈfɒksɪŋ/

## Noun

1. Brownish-yellow spotting and discoloration that develops on old paper, books, or prints as they age.
   - Simple: Brown spots and stains that show up on old paper as it ages.
   - _The appraiser noted heavy foxing on the title page of the first edition._
   - _Humidity in the storage room accelerated the foxing throughout the entire collection._
3. A strip of material running around a shoe's lower edge that bonds the upper to the sole.
   - Simple: A strip of material that joins the top part of a shoe to its bottom sole.
   - _The classic sneaker's rubber foxing wraps neatly around the toe._
   - _Repairing the worn foxing restored the boot's tight seal._
4. Cunning, crafty behavior aimed at outwitting or deceiving others through trickery rather than honesty.
   - Simple: Clever, sneaky behavior used to trick or fool someone.
   - _The negotiation was full of foxing on both sides of the table._
   - _His reputation for foxing made rivals wary of every deal he proposed._
5. The act of feigning sleep or unconsciousness while actually being awake and aware. *(slang)*
   - Simple: Pretending to be asleep or knocked out when you are really awake.
   - _The boxer accused his opponent of foxing after the controversial knockdown._
   - _She realized he had been foxing the whole time, listening to every word._

## Verb

2. Present participle of fox. — present participle and gerund of fox
   - Simple: Present participle of fox. Use this form for something happening right now.
   - _The cryptic final clue was foxing even the most experienced solvers._
   - _Her unpredictable strategy kept foxing the opposing team all afternoon._

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/foxing (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).