Foul (foul), n. [See Fowl.] A bird. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Foul (foul), a. [Compar. Fouler (-r); superl. Foulest.] [OE. foul, ful,
AS. fl; akin to D. vuil, G. faul rotten, OHG. fl, Icel. fl foul, fetid;
Dan. fuul, Sw. ful foul, Goth. fls fetid, Lith. puti to be putrid, L.
putere to stink, be putrid, pus pus, Gr. py`on pus, to cause to rot,
Skr. py to stink. √82. Cf. Defile to foul, File to foul, Filth,
Pus, Putrid.] 1. Covered with, or containing, extraneous matter which
is injurious, noxious, offensive, or obstructive; filthy; dirty; not
clean; polluted; nasty; defiled; as, a foul cloth; foul hands; a foul
chimney; foul air; a ship's bottom is foul when overgrown with
barnacles; a gun becomes foul from repeated firing; a well is foul with
polluted water.
My face is foul with weeping.
Job. xvi. 16.
2. Scurrilous; obscene or profane; abusive; as, foul words; foul
language.
3. Hateful; detestable; shameful; odious; wretched. "The foul with
Sycorax." Shak.
Who first seduced them to that foul revolt?
Milton.