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foxing

foxing

1 9.9
Brown spots that appear on pages of old books from age or dampness
  • noun
  • /ˈfɑksɪŋ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : manchas
  • The rare book had noticeable foxing on its pages, indicating its age.

Examples

  • The museum exhibited several old manuscripts, some of which displayed foxing from years of moisture exposure.

  • Yeah, and slightly worn, spine-rubbed, some foxing.

  • Wentworth opened it, noting with distaste the foxing of the pages and the emergence of a fat, squirming silverfish from what was left of the binding.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Most of his books came from the library; he was one of the few she knew who used the library, besides her own mother, who volunteered at the local library and used it to distract herself from something only she could have named. He had a few paperbacks, many smelling of foxing and ill health, many treasures from a library of a friend who had died and had been interested in picture books, quite beautiful art books, because oddly, although this friend had been fairly well-to-do, he didn't read well and mostly looked at the pictures.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • She carefully inspected the antique book for foxing before deciding to purchase it.

Synonyms

stain
vsfoxing
224 1.4

A mark that makes something a different color and is hard to remove

occurs as brown spots on aged paper caused by moisture
staining
vsfoxing
3 3.7

The process of making a mark or color change on a surface like wood

is the natural ageing process producing brown spots on old paper
mottling
vsfoxing
1 6.9

A pattern of spots or patches with different colors

is specifically brownish spots on old paper caused by age and moisture
smirch
vsfoxing
  • Archaic
9.8

A dirty mark that spoils the look of clothing or fabric

is brownish ageing spots in books, not a dirt smear

Surface Forms

foxing singular
foxings plural

Morphology

foxing = fox (opaque) = fox + ing

The form suggests fox + ing, but the meaning 'brownish spots on old paper' is specialized and not straightforwardly predictable from the base word.

Etymology

Foxing probably comes from the animal fox, because the brownish spots on old paper look like the color of a fox's fur. So, think of little 'fox-coloured' marks on pages, and you will remember foxing means those brownish stains on old books and letters.