FOUL

Definitions for the word, foul

(n.) A bird.

(n.) An entanglement; a collision, as in a boat race.

(n.) See Foul ball, under Foul, a.

(superl.) 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.

(superl.) Hateful; detestable; shameful; odious; wretched.

(superl.) Having freedom of motion interfered with by collision or entanglement; entangled; -- opposed to clear; as, a rope or cable may get foul while paying it out.

(superl.) Loathsome; disgusting; as, a foul disease.

(superl.) Not conformed to the established rules and customs of a game, conflict, test, etc.; unfair; dishonest; dishonorable; cheating; as, foul play.

(superl.) Not favorable; unpropitious; not fair or advantageous; as, a foul wind; a foul road; cloudy or rainy; stormy; not fair; -- said of the weather, sky, etc.

(superl.) Scurrilous; obscene or profane; abusive; as, foul words; foul language.

(superl.) Ugly; homely; poor.

(v. i.) To become clogged with burnt powder in the process of firing, as a gun.

(v. i.) To become entagled, as ropes; to come into collision with something; as, the two boats fouled.

(v. t.) To cover (a ship's bottom) with anything that impered its sailing; as, a bottom fouled with barnacles.

(v. t.) To entangle, so as to impede motion; as, to foul a rope or cable in paying it out; to come into collision with; as, one boat fouled the other in a race.

(v. t.) To incrust (the bore of a gun) with burnt powder in the process of firing.

(v. t.) To make filthy; to defile; to daub; to dirty; to soil; as, to foul the face or hands with mire.