1598, Shakspeare, Henry V., 4. O signieur Dew, thou dy’st on point of fox.
1614. Jonson, Bartholomew Fair, ii. A fellow that knows nothing but a basket-hilt, and an old fox in’t.
c. 1640. [Shirley], Captain Underwit, in Bullen’s Old Plays, ii., 321. Un. An old fox blade made at Hounsloe heath.
1667. Shirley, Love Tricks, Act II., Sc. 1. They say your swords most commonly are foxes, and have notable metal in them.
1700. Congreve, Way of the World, Act V., Sc. 10. Sir, I have an old fox by my thigh shall hack your instrument of ram vellum to shreds, Sir.
1821. Scott, Kenilworth, ch. iv. ‘Come, come, comrade,’ said Lambourne, ‘here is enough done, and more than enough, put up your fox, and let us be jogging.’
Verb (old).—1. To intoxicate. Foxed = drunk; to catch a fox = to be very drunk; while to flay the fox (Urquhart) = to vomit, to shed your liquor, i.e., to get rid of the beast.
1611. Barry, Ram Alley, Act IV. They will bib hard; they will be fine sunburnt, Sufficient fox’d or columber’d now and then.
1633. Heywood, Eng. Travellers, IV., v., p. 266 (Mermaid Series). Rioter. Worthy Reginald. Reig. Will, if he now come off well, fox you all, Go, call for wine.
c. 1640. [Shirley], Captain Underwit, in Bullen’s Old Plays, ii. 375. Then to bee fox’d it is no crime, Since thickest and dull braines It makes sublime.