GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 7 definitions

1.       
   Soil , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soiled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Soiling.] [OF. saoler, saouler, to satiate, F. soûler, L. satullare, fr. satullus, dim. of satur sated. See Satire.] To feed, as cattle or horses, in the barn or an inclosure, with fresh grass or green food cut for them, instead of sending them out to pasture; hence (such food having the effect of purging them), to purge by feeding on green food; as, to soil a horse.
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2.       
   Soil, n. [OE. soile, F. sol, fr. L. solum bottom, soil; but the word has probably been influenced in form by soil a miry place.  Cf. Saloon, Soil a miry place, Sole of the foot.]
   The upper stratum of the earth; the mold, or that compound substance which furnishes nutriment to plants, or which is particularly adapted to support and nourish them.
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   Land; country.
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   Must I thus leave thee, Paradise? thus leave
   Thee, native soil?
   Milton.
   
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   Dung; faeces; compost; manure; as, night soil.
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   Improve land by dung and other sort of soils.
   Mortimer.
   
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   Soil pipe, a pipe or drain for carrying off night soil.
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3.       
   Soil, v. t. To enrich with soil or muck; to manure.
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   Men . . . soil their ground, not that they love the dirt, but that they expect a crop.
   South.
   
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4.       
   Soil, n. [OF. soil, souil, F. souille, from OF. soillier, F. souiller. See Soil to make dirty.] A marshy or miry place to which a hunted boar resorts for refuge; hence, a wet place, stream, or tract of water, sought for by other game, as deer.
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   As deer, being stuck, fly through many soils,
   Yet still the shaft sticks fast.
   Marston.
   
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   To take soil, to run into the mire or water; hence, to take refuge or shelter.
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   O, sir, have you taken soil here? It is well a man may reach you after three hours' running.
   B. Jonson.
   
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5.       
   Soil, v. t.[OE. soilen, OF. soillier, F. souiller, (assumed) LL. suculare, fr. L. sucula a little pig, dim. of sus a swine. See Sow, n.]
   To make dirty or unclean on the surface; to foul; to dirty; to defile; as, to soil a garment with dust.
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   Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained.
   Milton.
   
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   To stain or mar, as with infamy or disgrace; to tarnish; to sully.
   Shak.
   
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   Syn. -- To foul; dirt; dirty; begrime; bemire; bespatter; besmear; daub; bedaub; stain; tarnish; sully; defile; pollute.
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6.       
   Soil, v. i. To become soiled; as, light colors soil sooner than dark ones.
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7.       
   Soil, n. [See Soil to make dirty, Soil a miry place.] That which soils or pollutes; a soiled place; spot; stain.
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   A lady's honor . . . will not bear a soil.
   Dryden.
   
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