'vixen' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'fyxen', where the suffix '-en' meant 'female'.

'vixen' changed from Old English 'fyxen' to Middle English 'vixen' (with the initial consonant voiced to 'v') and eventually became the modern English word 'vixen'.

Initially, it meant 'female fox', but over time it evolved into figurative senses such as 'an ill-tempered woman' and later also 'an attractive or seductive woman'.