FOIL


Meaning of FOIL in English

~ 1

■ verb

1》 prevent the success of.

2》 Hunting (of a hunted animal) cross (a scent or track) in such a way as to confuse the hounds.

■ noun

1》 Hunting the track or scent of a hunted animal.

2》 archaic a setback or defeat.

Origin

ME (in the sense 'trample down'): perh. from OFr. fouler 'to full cloth, trample', based on L. fullo 'fuller'.

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~ 2

■ noun

1》 metal hammered or rolled into a thin flexible sheet.

↘a thin leaf of metal placed under a precious stone to increase its brilliance.

2》 a person or thing that contrasts with and so enhances the qualities of another.

3》 Architecture a leaf-shaped curve formed by the cusping of an arch or circle.

Origin

ME: via OFr. from L. folium 'leaf'.

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~ 3

■ noun a light, blunt-edged fencing sword with a button on its point.

Derivatives

~ist noun

Origin

C16: of unknown origin.

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~ 4

■ noun each of the structures fitted to a hydro~'s hull to lift it clear of the water at speed.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.