To run a foil,to lead astray; to puzzle; -- alluding to the habits of
some animals of running back over the same track to mislead their
pursuers. Brewer.
Foil, n. [OE. foil leaf, OF. foil, fuil, fueil, foille, fueille, F.
feuille, fr. L. folium, pl. folia; akin to Gr. &?; , and perh. to E.
blade. Cf. Foliage, Folio.] 1. A leaf or very thin sheet of metal; as,
brass foil; tin foil; gold foil.
2. (Jewelry) A thin leaf of sheet copper silvered and burnished, and
afterwards coated with transparent colors mixed with isinglass; --
employed by jewelers to give color or brilliancy to pastes and inferior
stones. Ure.
3. Anything that serves by contrast of color or quality to adorn or set
off another thing to advantage.
As she a black silk cap on him began To set, for foil of his
milk-white to serve.
Sir P. Sidney.
Hector has a foil to set him off.
Broome.
4. A thin coat of tin, with quicksilver, laid on the back of a
looking-glass, to cause reflection.
5. (Arch.) The space between the cusps in Gothic architecture; a
rounded or leaflike ornament, in windows, niches, etc. A group of foils
is called trefoil, quatrefoil, quinquefoil, etc., according to the
number of arcs of which it is composed.
Foil stone, an imitation of a jewel or precious stone.
Foil"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being foiled.
Foil"er (?), n. One who foils or frustrates. Johnson.
Foil"ing, n. (Arch.) A foil. Simmonds.
Foil"ing, n. [Cf. F. foulÈes. See 1st Foil.] (Hunting) The track of
game (as deer) in the grass.
Foin (foin), n. [F. fouine a marten.] 1. (Zoˆl.) The beech marten
(Mustela foina). See Marten.
2. A kind of fur, black at the top on a whitish ground, taken from the
ferret or weasel of the same name.[Obs.]
He came to the stake in a fair black gown furred and faced with
foins.
Fuller.
Foin, v. i. [OE. foinen, foignen; of uncertain origin; cf. dial. F.
fouiner to push for eels with a spear, fr. F. fouine an eelspear, perh.
fr. L. fodere to dig, thrust.] To thrust with a sword or spear; to
lunge. [Obs.]
He stroke, he soused, he foynd, he hewed, he lashed.
Spenser.
They lash, they foin, they pass, they strive to bore Their
corselets, and the thinnest parts explore.
Dryden.
Foin, v. t. To prick; to st?ng. [Obs.] Huloet.
Foin, n. A pass in fencing; a lunge. [Obs.] Shak.
Foin"er*y (?), n. Thrusting with the foil; fencing with the point, as
distinguished from broadsword play. [Obs.] Marston.