fox grape

American  

noun

1. a vine, Vitis labrusca, chiefly of the northeastern U.S., from which numerous cultivated grape varieties have been developed.

2. the usually purplish-black, thick-skinned, sweet, musky fruit of this vine.

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fox grape British  

noun

1. a common wild grape, Vitis labrusca of the northern US, having purplish-black fruit and woolly leaves: the source of many cultivated grapes, including the catawba

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Etymology

Origin of fox grape

An Americanism dating back to 1630–40

Example Sentences

English ivy, Boston ivy, and fox grape are just a few.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 15, 2014

The cicuta is a frequent plant on this river; we found the fox grape this afternoon nearly ripe.

From Personal Memoirs of a Residence of Thirty Years with the Indian Tribes on the American Frontiers by Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe

Landing from our shore-boat near the end of the bridge at a little cove that made in through a greenery of fox grape and woodbine, we reached the road and started off through the woodland.

From Virginia: the Old Dominion by Hutchins, Frank W.

For the same purpose he especially recommends the planting of the following vines: Virginia creeper, bull-beaver, frost grape, and fox grape.

From The Bird Study Book by Pearson, Thomas Gilbert