v.tr. 1 make dirty; pollute, befoul. 2 corrupt. 3 desecrate, profane. 4 deprive (esp. a woman) of virginity. 5 make ceremonially unclean. defilement n. defiler n.
[ ME defoul f. OF defouler trample down, outrage (as DE-, fouler tread, trample) altered after obs. befile f. OE befylan (BE-, ful FOUL) ]