noun
fox possession; person possessed by a fox
Refers to the folk belief that a fox spirit can possess a person, causing erratic behavior or illness. Can also denote the possessed individual.
昔の村では、狐憑きは祈祷で治すと考えられていた。
In old villages, fox possession was thought to be cured by prayer.
彼女は狐憑きのように突然笑い出した。
She suddenly burst out laughing as if possessed by a fox.
Compound of 狐 (kitsune, 'fox') and 憑き (tsuki, 'possession', from 憑く 'to possess'). The exact historical origin of the fox-possession belief is uncertain, but it is deeply rooted in Japanese folklore.