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foil
1[ foil ]
/ fɔɪl /
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verb (used with object)
noun
Archaic. a defeat; check; repulse.
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Origin of foil
1First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English foilen, fuylen “to trample, oppress, torment, mortify (the flesh),” irregular variant of fullen “to trample, full (cloth),” from Anglo-French foller, Old French fuler, from Vulgar Latin fullāre, from Latin fullō “fuller, launderer”; see full2
OTHER WORDS FROM foil
foil·a·ble, adjectiveun·foil·a·ble, adjectiveOther definitions for foil (2 of 3)
foil2
[ foil ]
/ fɔɪl /
noun
verb (used with object)
to cover or back with foil.
to set off by contrast.
Origin of foil
2First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English foil, foille “leaf (of a plant or a book),” from Old French fuelle, fueille, foille (from Latin folia “leaves,” reinterpreted as a feminine singular noun) and from Old French fuel, fueil, foil (from Latin folium “leaf of a plant, blade”)
Other definitions for foil (3 of 3)
foil3
[ foil ]
/ fɔɪl /
noun Fencing.
a flexible four-sided rapier having a blunt point.
foils, the art or practice of fencing with this weapon, points being made by touching the trunk of the opponent's body with the tip of the weapon.
Origin of foil
3First recorded in 1585–95; origin uncertain
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use foil in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for foil (1 of 3)
foil1
/ (fɔɪl) /
verb (tr)
to baffle or frustrate (a person, attempt, etc)
hunting (of hounds, hunters, etc) to obliterate the scent left by a hunted animal or (of a hunted animal) to run back over its own trail
archaic to repulse or defeat (an attack or assailant)
noun
hunting any scent that obscures the trail left by a hunted animal
archaic a setback or defeat
Derived forms of foil
foilable, adjectiveWord Origin for foil
C13 foilen to trample, from Old French fouler, from Old French fuler tread down, full ²
British Dictionary definitions for foil (2 of 3)
foil2
/ (fɔɪl) /
noun
verb (tr)
to back or cover with foil
Also: foliate architect to ornament (windows) with foils
Word Origin for foil
C14: from Old French foille, from Latin folia leaves, plural of folium
British Dictionary definitions for foil (3 of 3)
foil3
/ (fɔɪl) /
noun
a light slender flexible sword tipped by a button and usually having a bell-shaped guard
Word Origin for foil
C16: of unknown origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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