fox message

noun

A message sent to test a teletype machine, incorporating most or all of the available text characters.

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Meanings

nounfox message (plural fox messages)

plural fox messages

  1. A message sent to test a teletype machine, incorporating most or all of the available text characters.

    Output Test Patterns: (1) Standard FOX message with 5-letter programmable in the field for station call letters.

    1970, United States. Dept. of Defense, Military Standard (issues 1362-1381, page 263)
    1 more example

    The punched paper tapes containing the standard Fox messages are passed through an IBM 047 Tape-to-Card Printing Punch which has been modified to recognize and punch every pertinent teletype symbol, […]

    1964, IEEE International Convention Record

Origin

In reference to the pangram "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog", often used for this purpose.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

fox message. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fox%20message

MLA

“fox message.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fox%20message. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fox message,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fox%20message.

Source: fox message on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.