flying fox

noun

1. any large fruit bat of the genus Pteropus, of Old World tropical regions, having a foxlike head.
2. Australian. an aerial conveyor belt or suspended carrier operating on cables, often used to convey ore, dirt, or the like, over rivers and gorges in mining or construction operations.

flying fox

noun

1. any large fruit bat, esp any of the genus Pteropus of tropical Africa and Asia: family Pteropodidae
2. a cable mechanism used for transportation across a river, gorge, etc
3. a cable mechanism ridden for fun at an adventure playground, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of flying fox¹

First recorded in 1750–60

Example Sentences

A flying fox wore a tiny anesthetic mask.

From New York Times

Somewhere out there are clouded leopards, pygmy elephants, flying foxes, flying frogs, flying lemurs, flying snakes, nearly 700 species of birds, about a hundred species of bats, and more than a thousand kinds of ants.

From National Geographic

Here, a fruit bat called the flying fox exists alongside mangrove trees, helping to pollinate them.

From National Geographic

In a way, “flying fox” sparked discord over photographer access to newly born fox kits in a rural community where the term “fox photographer” has devolved into a slur.

From Seattle Times

Another twist in the paralysis mystery is that flying foxes—a type of fruit bat that is usually nocturnal—are also being found with symptoms resembling LPS.

From Scientific American