Save Gender Masculine Usage Ancient Roman, Pet Pronounced Pron. [ˈfɛroːks̠](Latin) [key·simplify] Meaning & History Roman cognomen which was derived from the Latin adjective ferox meaning "wild, bold, ferocious." In his work De re rustica, the 1st-century Roman writer Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella recommends this as a good name for dogs.