FOX.  In the German universities, a student during the first half-year is called a Fox (Fuchs), the same as Freshman.  To this the epithet nasty is sometimes added.

On this subject, Howitt remarks:  “On entering the University, he becomes a Kameel,—­a Camel.  This happy transition-state of a few weeks gone by, he comes forth finally, on entering a Chore, a Fox, and runs joyfully into the new Burschen life.  During the first semester or half-year, he is a gold fox, which means, that he has foxes, or rich gold in plenty yet; or he is a Crass-fucks, or fat fox, meaning that he yet swells or puffs himself up with gold.”—­Student Life of Germany, Am. ed., p. 124.

“Halloo there, Herdman, fox!” yelled another lusty tippler, and Herdman, thus appealed to, arose and emptied the contents of his glass.—­Yale Lit.  Mag., Vol.  XII. p. 116.

At the same moment, a door at the end of the hall was thrown open, and a procession of new-comers, or Nasty Foxes, as they are called in the college dialect, entered two by two, looking wild, and green, and foolish.—­Longfellow’s Hyperion, p. 109.

See also in the last-mentioned work the Fox song.

FREEZE.  A correspondent from Williams College writes:  “But by far the most expressive word in use among us is Freeze.  The meaning of it might be felt, if, some cold morning, you would place your tender hand upon some frosty door-latch; it would be a striking specimen on the part of the door-latch of what we mean by Freeze.  Thus we freeze to apples in the orchards, to fellows whom we electioneer for in our secret societies, and alas! some even go so far as to freeze to the ladies.”

“Now, boys,” said Bob, “freeze on,” and at it they went.—­Yale Lit.  Mag., Vol.  XII. p. 111.

FRESH.  An abbreviation for Freshman or Freshmen; FRESHES is sometimes used for the plural.

When Sophs met Fresh, power met opposing power. Harv.  Reg., p. 251.

The Sophs did nothing all the first fortnight but torment the Fresh, as they call us.—­Harvardiana, Vol.  III. p. 76.

Listen to the low murmurings of some annihilated Fresh upon the Delta.—­Oration before H.L. of I.O. of O.F., 1848.

FRESH.  Newly come; likewise, awkward, like a Freshman.—­Grad. ad Cantab.

For their behavior at table, spitting and coughing, and speaking loud, was counted uncivil in any but a gentleman; as we say in the university, that nothing is fresh in a Senior, and to him it was a glory.—­Archaeol.  Atticae, Edit.  Oxon., 1675, B. VI.

FRESHMAN, pl. FRESHMEN.  In England, a student during his first year’s residence at the university.  In America, one who belongs to the youngest of the four classes in college, called the Freshman Class.—­Webster.