pollyfox

present singular third person pollyfoxes · participle present pollyfoxing · participle past pollyfoxed · past pollyfoxed · alternative polly-fox

1. dialectalobsoleteTo equivocate; to dodge the issue.

   We ain't got no time to polly-fox; we gotter dig!

   1909 March 24, Puck 1909-03-24: Vol 65 Iss 1673

   5 more examples

   Considerable time was taken up in skirmishing and pollyfoxing to secure the advantage in the start.

   1866 January 20, New York Clipper 1866-01-20: Vol 13 Iss 41

   […]whose patience had been worn out by the swiftly-lengthening roll of crime and the pollyfoxing of courts.

   1891 September 3, Rushville Republican (1891-09-03)

   That signifies nothing. There is more pollyfoxing and more attempt to evade the question.

   1897 July 24, Congressional Record July 2-24, 1897: Vol 30

   The present congress has had ample time and opportunity to do everything that should have been done, and it has chosen to dally and "pollyfox" with public questions in view of the dangerous records that might be made for the coming presidential campaign.

   1903 February 17, Lima Times Democrat (1903-02-17)

   Judge Stewart calls the lawyers down when they pollyfox in a case.

   1917, The American Dialect Society, Dialect Notes

   Synonyms: pussyfoot