zorro

fox (carnivore); opossum; skunk; fox (sly or cunning person); jack (device used to raise and temporarily support a heavy object)

First attested in the 15th century, chiefly in the feminine form zorra. Of unclear origin: * perhaps from Paleo-Hispanic. If so, it may be related to Spanish perro, * perhaps from Middle French sor (“yellowish-brown, reddish-brown, sorrel”), or * perhaps from Basque azeri (“fox”). * A fourth suggestion, that the term derives from a verb *zorrar from onomatopoeia, is considered "far from convincing" and "unprovable".

clever, crafty, sly

Related: a lo zorro, no tener ni zorra idea

First attested in the 15th century, chiefly in the feminine form zorra. Of unclear origin: * perhaps from Paleo-Hispanic. If so, it may be related to Spanish perro, * perhaps from Middle French sor (“yellowish-brown, reddish-brown, sorrel”), or * perhaps from Basque azeri (“fox”). * A fourth suggestion, that the term derives from a verb *zorrar from onomatopoeia, is considered "far from convincing" and "unprovable".