Part 242

Shak.

Isocrates contended with a foil against Demosthenes with a word.

Mitford.

3. The track or trail of an animal.

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.