See Also: foil(6)(dictionary)
tin foil(dictionary)
foil(7)(dictionary)
foil(5)(dictionary)
foil(4)(dictionary)
foil(3)(dictionary)
foil(2)(dictionary)
foil(1)(dictionary)
foil(medicine)
silver foil(dictionary)

foil(6) (iou)



foil verb1. ME.
[Perh. from Anglo-Norman var. of Old & mod. French fouler full cloth, trample, ult. from Latin fullo FULLER noun1. The development in branch II is paralleled in DEFOIL, DEFOUL.]
I. In sense of French fouler: cf. FULL verb1.
verb trans. Trample, tread down. obsolete exc. dial. ME.
R. Knolles King Richard..caused the ensignes of Leopold..to be puld downe, and foiled under foot.
verb trans. & intrans. Hunting. Cross (ground, a scent or track), or, formerly, travel down a stream, in such a way as to obliterate the scent. LME.
II. Infl. by FOUL adjective, verb.
verb trans. Foul, pollute. obsolete exc. dial. LME.
N. Udall A man hath no honour to foile his handes on a woman.
verb trans. Violate the chastity of (a woman). LME-L16.
III. (Cf. earlier FOIL noun2.)
verb trans. Defeat or repulse (an opponent); beat off (an attack). Formerly also (in wrestling), inflict a foil or incomplete fall on. M16.
Pope Not fiercer woes thy fortitude could foil.
b. verb intrans. Suffer defeat or discomfiture. L16-M17.
c. verb trans. Outdo, surpass. L17.
verb trans. Render ineffectual, frustrate, (a plan, attempt, etc.); frustrate the efforts or designs of (a person etc.). M16.
A. Hopkins With enchanting waywardness he..foils expectations. P. L. Fermor Nets over the..currant bushes foiled starlings but not us.