foul
verbEtymology Inherited from Middle English foulen, fulen, from Old English fūlian (“to become foul; rot; decay”), from Proto-West Germanic *fūlēn, from Proto-Germanic *fūlāną (“to rot; decay”).
11 senses
- 1To make dirty.
- 2To besmirch.
- 3To obstruct, block, or otherwise interfere with…
- 4To entangle.
- 5To make make a play, such as a strong contact with an…
- 6To commit a foul.
- 7To hit outside of the baselines.
- 8To hit a ball outside of the baselines.
- 9To become clogged.
- 10To become entangled.
- 11To come into contact or collide with.
To make dirty.
- to foul the face or hands with mire
- She's fouled her diaper.
To besmirch.
- He's fouled his reputation.
To obstruct, block, or otherwise interfere with (something), for example by clogging (a drain, gun barrel, chimney, etc) or by being in the way of (a gunshot, etc).
- The hair has fouled the drain.
- The recent opening of the bridge at the south end of Lincoln Station has enabled trains to take water there without fouling the level crossings at both ends of the platforms.1959 November 23, P. W. B. Semmens, “Sunday Diversions on the East Coast Main Line”, in Railway Magazine, page 759:
4 more examples
- As a result of the accident at Southend Airport when a Hermes aircraft overshot the runway and fouled the down Shenfield to Southend Victoria line between Rochford and Prittlewell, the Eastern Region is considering warning arrangements, which have already been provided on some lines running past aerodromes.1961 November, “Talking of Trains: Aircraft on rail tracks”, in Trains Illustrated, page 650:
- Unbelievable. Nearly all shots were fouled by twigs or branches.2013, Miles Johannesburg, The Airgun Hunters Chronicles:
- Porterfields 5" guns were of little use as their shots were fouled' by the other task group warships down range.2018 September 21, Martin Irons, Phalanx Against the Divine Wind: Protecting the Fast Carrier Task Force During World War 2, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 217:
- “You were lucky the shot was fouled,” said a dispassionate voice.2020, Yoon Ha Lee, Phoenix Extravagant, start of chapter 21
- The kelp has fouled the prop.
- The Indian's heart was sore for his boat; it looked as if nothing could save her. She was drifting more slowly now, her propeller fouled in kelp.1941, Emily Carr, chapter 18, in Klee Wyck:
Ball games, Basketball, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Soccer, Sports To make make a play, such as a strong contact with an opposing player in order to gain advantage, that is deemed by the referee to have contravened the rules.
- Smith fouled him hard.
- The Gunners dominated for long periods but, against the run of play, Denilson fouled Max Gradel and Robert Snodgrass put Leeds ahead from the spot.2011 January 8, Chris Bevan, “Arsenal 1 - 1 Leeds”, in BBC:
Ball games, Basketball, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Soccer, Sports To commit a foul.
- Smith fouled within the first minute of the quarter.
- State begins fouling and UCLA misses a couple of front-end free throws on one-and-ones.2009, Brandon Lang, Stanley Cohen, Beating the Odds: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of a Sports Handicapper, →ISBN:
Ball games, Baseball, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports To hit outside of the baselines.
- Jones fouled the ball off the facing of the upper deck.
Ball games, Baseball, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports To hit a ball outside of the baselines.
- Jones fouled for strike one.
To become clogged.
- The drain fouled.
To become entangled.
- The prop fouled on the kelp.
To come into contact or collide with.
- The full capacity, however, requires a hopper of a size that takes the wagon body up to 11ft 11½in above rail level, which would foul many existing colliery screens.1963 July, “News and Comment: The future of coal by rail”, in Modern Railways, page 5: