figurative. A man likened for craftiness to a fox.

plural. Skilful or crafty persons. †Also singular, one who is skilled or cunning.

(as a proper name).

elliptical as n. A wily person or animal; in quot. 1460 as proper name (cf. compounds 1). Obsolete.

One who draws or lifts a sneck or latch (in order to enter stealthily); a crafty, flattering, or sly fellow (cf. quot. 1808).

In extended use. A cunning, sly, or wily person. Obsolete.

An artful, cunning, or devious person; a trickster, a dissembler. Now rare.

figurative. A person likened to a fox (specifically to its proverbial cunning); a sly or crafty person.

Combined with another word so as to form a name or nickname. a cunning, subtle, or sly person.

A wily, cunning person. Obsolete.

A cunning person.

also frequently in jingling form wily beguily (and similar expressions) originally in to play wily beguile oneself (also later in various corrupt…

transferred. A tricksy, mischievous, sometimes a spiteful and malicious creature. to play the elf: to act elfishly, maliciously.

depreciative. In extended use, applied to a man. Obsolete.

One of a class of jugglers mentioned in the Digest.

a sly or cunning person.

A sly, cunning, or crafty person; one who does things on the sly. Frequently in mild or jocular use, and usually in plural form.

A master of cunning, deception, or trickery. Cf. craft, n. 7. Obsolete.

A sly or vicious person.

An untrustworthy or cunning person.

A person who is aware, alert, or savvy; a crafty or cunning person, esp. (in the language of costermongers) a fellow costermonger. Also: an…

A sly or cunning woman. Cf. rusé, adj.

a cunning or deceitful girl, a minx.