foil1

[foil] /fɔɪl/
verb (used with object)
1.
to prevent the success of; frustrate; balk:
Loyal troops foiled his attempt to overthrow the government.
2.
to keep (a person) from succeeding in an enterprise, plan, etc.
noun
3.
Archaic. a defeat; check; repulse.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English foilen, < Anglo-French foller, Old French fuler to trample, full (cloth). See full2
Related forms
foilable, adjective
unfoilable, adjective
Synonyms
1. thwart; impede, hamper.

foil2

[foil] /fɔɪl/
noun
1.
metal in the form of very thin sheets:
aluminum foil.
2.
the metallic backing applied to glass to form a mirror.
3.
a thin layer of metal placed under a gem in a closed setting to improve its color or brilliancy.
4.
a person or thing that makes another seem better by contrast:
The straight man was an able foil to the comic.
5.
Architecture. an arc or a rounded space between cusps, as in the tracery of a window or other ornamentation.
6.
an airfoil or hydrofoil.
verb (used with object)
7.
to cover or back with foil.
8.
to set off by contrast.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English foille, foil < Old French fuelle, fueille, foille (< Latin folia leaves), fuel, fueil, foil (< Latin folium leaf, blade)
Synonyms
4. contrast, complement, counterpart.

foil3

[foil] /fɔɪl/
noun, Fencing.
1.
a flexible four-sided rapier having a blunt point.
2.
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
1585-95; origin uncertain
Examples from the web for foil
  • Use the minimum amount of tin foil and plastic wrap to get the job done.
  • Place the baking pan onto tin foil and place into the oven.
  • Shape the dough into the outline of a wide heart on an ungreased, foil-covered baking sheet.
  • The creamy, understated bean purée is a great foil for the intense flavor of grilled sardines.
  • Make a similar ramp using a plank covered with sandpaper, oil or aluminum foil.
  • When small areas of the reflector get damaged, fill it in with plaster if needed and glue on some aluminum foil.
  • Copper wiring goes in one heap, aluminium foil in another.
  • State rail firms have the ability to foil smaller rivals and new entrants.
  • If nothing else it does serve as a foil to dynamics of election cycles in multi-party democracies.
  • The syrup came in small plastic containers from which you pulled back a foil lid and voilà, it was a pretty good waffle.
British Dictionary definitions for foil

foil1

/fɔɪl/
verb (transitive)
1.
to baffle or frustrate (a person, attempt, etc)
2.
(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
3.
(archaic) to repulse or defeat (an attack or assailant)
noun
4.
(hunting) any scent that obscures the trail left by a hunted animal
5.
(archaic) a setback or defeat
Derived Forms
foilable, adjective
Word Origin
C13 foilen to trample, from Old French fouler, from Old French fuler tread down, full²

foil2

/fɔɪl/
noun
1.
metal in the form of very thin sheets: gold foil, tin foil
2.
the thin metallic sheet forming the backing of a mirror
3.
a thin leaf of shiny metal set under a gemstone to add brightness or colour
4.
a person or thing that gives contrast to another
5.
(architect) a small arc between cusps, esp as used in Gothic window tracery
6.
short for aerofoil, hydrofoil
verb (transitive)
7.
to back or cover with foil
8.
(architect) Also foliate. to ornament (windows) with foils
Word Origin
C14: from Old French foille, from Latin folia leaves, plural of folium

foil3

/fɔɪl/
noun
1.
a light slender flexible sword tipped by a button and usually having a bell-shaped guard
Word Origin
C16: of unknown origin
Word Origin and History for foil
v.

c.1300, foilen "to spoil a trace or scent by running over it," irregularly from Old French fouler "trample," from Vulgar Latin *fullare "to clean cloth" (by treading on it), from Latin fullo "one who cleans cloth, fuller," of unknown origin.

Hence, "to overthrow, defeat" (1540s). Sense of "frustrate the efforts of" first recorded 1560s. Related: Foiled; foiling. Foiled again! as a cry of defeat and dismay is from at least 1847.

n.

"thin sheet of metal," early 14c., from Old French fueille "leaf," from Latin folia "leaves," plural (mistaken for fem. singular) of folium "leaf" (see folio).

The sense of "one who enhances another by contrast" (1580s) is from the practice of backing a gem with metal foil to make it shine more brilliantly. The meaning "light sword used in fencing" (1590s) could be from this sense, or from foil (v.). The modern sense of "metallic food wrap" is from 1946.

Slang definitions & phrases for foil

foil

noun

A small packet of narcotics; bag (1960s+ Narcotics)


foil in Technology


File Oriented Interpretive Language. CAI language.
["FOIL - A File Oriented Interpretive Language", J.C. Hesselbart, Proc ACM 23rd National Conf (1968)].

Encyclopedia Article for foil

in architecture, leaf-shaped, indented spaces which, combined with cusps (small, projecting arcs outlining the leaf design), are found especially in the tracery (decorative openwork) of Gothic windows. The term is derived from the Latin folium, meaning "leaf." A window or wall ornamented with foils is referred to as foiled. There are three kinds of such stylized foliated decoration: trefoil, quatrefoil, and cinquefoil, or three-, four-, and five-lobed leaves.

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