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Webster 1913 Edition

Renard

Ren′ard

(r?n′?rd)
,
Noun.
[F.
renard
the fox, the name of the fox in a celebrated epic poem, and of German origin, G.
Reinhard
, OHG.
Reginhard
, properly, strong in counsel;
regin
counsel (akin to Goth.
ragin
) +
hart
hard. See
Hard
.]
A fox; – so called in fables or familiar tales, and in poetry.
[Written also
reynard
.]

Webster 1828 Edition

Renard

REN'ARD

,
Noun.
a fox; a name used in fables, but not in common discourse.

Definition 2024

Renard

Renard

See also: renard

English

Proper noun

Renard

  1. Alternative form of Reynard

renard

renard

See also: Renard

French

Noun

renard m ‎(plural renards, feminine renarde)

  1. fox, small carnivore with upright triangular ears and a pointed snout, from one of several genera of the Canidae family (Vulpes, Atelocynus, Cerdocyon, Dusicyon, Otocyon, Lycalopex, Urocyon
  2. crafty, purposeful and cunning character
  3. (slang) flatulence
  4. (nautical) ancient navigation tool: circular, wooden or copper plate, which enables the helmsman to keep a record of wind conditions by inserting pegs at specific positions
  5. hardly detectable cracks or holes causing a water tank or pond to empty itself

Derived terms

See also

Anagrams

Etymology

The name of the fox in the medieval Roman de Renart. A Germanic personal name, from Proto-Germanic *Raginaharduz, from *raginą ‎(“counsel by the gods”) + *harduz ‎(“hard, strong”).

Replaced goupil (from Latin vulpecula) by euphemism (properly, antonomasia) – mentioning the fox by name was considered bad luck, so Renart replaced it. Compare English bear (from “brown”, in Proto-Indo-European) and Russian медведь ‎(medvéd’, “bear”), literally “honey-eater”.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʁənaʁ/

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