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Definition foul

Etymology 1

From Middle English foul, from Old English f?l (�foul, unclean, impure, vile, corrupt, rotten, guilty�), from Proto-Germanic *f?laz (�foul, rotten�), from Proto-Indo-European *puH- (�to rot�). Cognate with Dutch vuil (�foul�), German faul (�rotten, putrid�), Danish and Swedish ful (�foul�), and through Indo-European, with Albanian f�lliq (�filth, dirt�), Latin puter (�rotten�). More at putrid.

Ancient Greek ?????? (pha�los, �bad�) is a false cognate inasmuch as it is not from the same etymon, instead being cognate to few.

Adjective

foul (comparative fouler, superlative foulest)

1. Covered with, or containing unclean matter; dirty.
2. (of words or a way of speaking) obscene, vulgar or abusive.
3. Detestable, unpleasant, loathsome.
4. Disgusting, repulsive; causing disgust.
5. (obsolete) Ugly; homely; poor.
6. (of the weather) Unpleasant, stormy or rainy.
7. Dishonest or not conforming to the established rules and customs of a game, conflict, test, etc.
8. (nautical) Entangled and therefore restricting free movement, not clear.
9. (baseball) Outside of the base lines; in foul territory.

Etymology 2

From Middle English foulen, fulen, from Old English f?lian (�to become foul; rot; decay�), from Proto-Germanic *f?lijan? (�to rot; decay�). Cognate with German Low German fulen (�to rot; decay�), German faulen (�to rot; decay�).

Verb

foul (third-person singular simple present fouls, present participle fouling, simple past and past participle fouled)

1. (transitive) To make dirty.
2. (transitive) To besmirch.
3. (transitive) To clog or obstruct.
4. (transitive, nautical) To entangle.
5. (transitive, basketball) To make contact with an opposing player in order to gain advantage.
6. (transitive, baseball) To hit outside of the baselines.
7. (intransitive) To become clogged.
8. (intransitive) To become entangled.
9. (intransitive, basketball) To commit a foul.
10. (intransitive, baseball) To hit a ball outside of the baselines.

Noun

foul (plural fouls)

1. (sports) A breach of the rules of a game, especially one involving inappropriate contact with an opposing player in order to gain an advantage; for example, tripping someone up in soccer, or contact of any kind in basketball.
2. (bowling) A (usually accidental) contact between a bowler and the lane before the bowler has released the ball.
3. (baseball) A foul ball, a ball which has been hit outside of the base lines.

Results 441 Words with the letters FOUL

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