GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 4 definitions

      
Foil (foil), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foiled (foild); p. pr. & vb. n. Foiling.] [F. fouler to tread or trample under one's feet, to press, oppress. See Full, v. t.]
1. To tread under foot; to trample.

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 King Richard . . . caused the ensigns of Leopold to be pulled down and foiled under foot. Knoless.

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 Whom he did all to pieces breake and foyle,

      In filthy durt, and left so in the loathely soyle. Spenser.

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2. To render (an effort or attempt) vain or nugatory; to baffle; to outwit; to balk; to frustrate; to defeat.

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         And by  mortal man at length am foiled. Dryden.

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         Her long locks that foil the painter's power. Byron.

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3. To blunt; to dull; to spoil; as, “to foil the scent in chase”.  Addison.

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Foil, v. t. [See 6th File.] To defile; to soil. [Obs.]

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Foil, n.
1. Failure of success when on the point of attainment; defeat; frustration; miscarriage.  Milton.

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            Nor e'er was fate so near a foil. Dryden.

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2. A blunt weapon used in fencing, resembling a smallsword in the main, but usually lighter and having a button at the point.

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    Blunt as the fencer's foils, which hit, but hurt not. Shak.

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   Isocrates contended with a foil against Demosthenes with a word. Mitford.

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3. The track or trail of an animal.

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To run a foil,to lead astray; to puzzle; -- alluding to the habits of some animals of running back over the same track to mislead their pursuers.  Brewer.

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Foil, n. [OE. foil leaf, OF. foil, fuil, fueil, foille, fueille, F. feuille, fr. L. folium, pl. folia; akin to Gr.  , and perh. to E. blade.  Cf. Foliage, Folio.]
1. A leaf or very thin sheet of metal; as, “brass foil; tin foil; gold foil.”

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2. (Jewelry) A thin leaf of sheet copper silvered and burnished, and afterwards coated with transparent colors mixed with isinglass; -- employed by jewelers to give color or brilliancy to pastes and inferior stones.  Ure.

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3. Anything that serves by contrast of color or quality to adorn or set off another thing to advantage.

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As she a black silk cap on him began

To set, for foil of his milk-white to serve. Sir P. Sidney.

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Hector has a foil to set him off. Broome.

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4. A thin coat of tin, with quicksilver, laid on the back of a looking-glass, to cause reflection.

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5. (Arch.) The space between the cusps in Gothic architecture; a rounded or leaflike ornament, in windows, niches, etc. A group of foils is called trefoil, quatrefoil, quinquefoil, etc., according to the number of arcs of which it is composed.

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Foil stone, an imitation of a jewel or precious stone.

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