/euh fowl"/ , adv. , adj.
1. in a state of collision or entanglement: a ship with its shrouds afoul.
2. run or come or fall afoul of ,
a. to become entangled with: The boat ran afoul of the seaweed.
b. to come into conflict with: The business had fallen afoul of the new government regulations.
[ 1800-10, Amer.; A- 1 + FOUL ]