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sledgeham ago

https://findwords.info/term/foil

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary

The FOIL on the Mayor's feet :-

foil c.1300, foilen "to spoil a trace or scent by running over it" (more commonly defoilen), irregularly from Old French foler, fuler "trample on, injure, maim; ill-treat, deceive, get the better of" (13c., Modern French fouler), from Vulgar Latin *fullare "to clean cloth" (by treading on it), from Latin fullo "one who cleans cloth, a fuller," which is of unknown origin. Compare full (v.).\n

\nHence, "to overthrow, defeat" (1540s; as a noun in this sense from late 15c.); "frustrate the efforts of" (1560s). Related: Foiled; foiling. Foiled again! as a cry of defeat and dismay is from at least 1847. foil "very thin sheet of metal," early 14c., foile, from Old French foil, fueill, fueille "leaf; foliage; sheet of paper; sheet of metal" (12c., Modern French fueille), from Latin folia, plural (mistaken for fem. singular) of folium "leaf" (see folio).\n

\nThe sense of "one who enhances another by contrast" (1580s) is from the practice of backing a gem with metal foil to make it shine more brilliantly. The meaning "light sword used in fencing" (1590s) could be from this sense, or from foil (v.). The sense of "metallic food wrap" is from 1897. foil "apply foil to," 1610s, from foil (n.1). Wiktionary

foil Etymology 1 n. 1 A very thin sheet of metal. 2 (context uncountable English) Thin aluminium/aluminum (or, formerly, tin) used for wrapping food. 3 A thin layer of metal put between a jewel and its setting to make it seem more brilliant. 4 (context figuratively English) In literature, theatre/theater, etc., a character who helps emphasize the traits of the main character. 5 (context figuratively English) Anything that acts by contrast to emphasise the characteristics of something. 6 (context fencing English) A very thin sword with a blunted (or foiled) tip 7 A thin, transparent plastic material on which marks are made and projected for the purposes of presentation. See transparency. 8 (context heraldiccharge English) A stylized flower or leaf. 9 Shortened form of hydrofoil. 10 Shortened form of aerofoil/airfoil. Etymology 2 n. Failure when on the point of attainment; defeat; frustration; miscarriage. vb. 1 To prevent (something) from being accomplished. 2 To prevent (someone) from accomplishing something. Etymology 3 n. (context hunting English) The track of an animal. Etymology 4 vb. (context mathematics English) To multiply two binomials together. Etymology 5 vb. (context obsolete English) To defile; to soil.