Chapter Focus to Fold of F by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

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.

Foilable
(Foil"a*ble) a. Capable of being foiled.

Foiler
(Foil"er) n. One who foils or frustrates. Johnson.

Foiling
(Foil"ing), n. (Arch.) A foil. Simmonds.

Foiling
(Foil"ing), n. [Cf. F. foulées. See 1st Foil.] (Hunting) The track of game (as deer) in the grass.

Foin
(Foin) n. [F. fouine a marten.]

1. (Zoöl.) The beech marten 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
(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.

Foin
(Foin), v. t. To prick; to st?ng. [Obs.] Huloet.

Foin
(Foin), n. A pass in fencing; a lunge. [Obs.] Shak.

Foinery
(Foin"er*y) n. Thrusting with the foil; fencing with the point, as distinguished from broadsword play. [Obs.] Marston.

Foiningly
(Foin"ing*ly) adv. With a push or thrust. [Obs.]

Foison
(Foi"son) n. [F. foison, fr. L. fusio a pouring, effusion. See Fusion.] Rich harvest; plenty; abundance. [Archaic] Lowell.

That from the seedness the bare fallow brings
To teeming foison.

Shak.

Foist
(Foist) n. [OF. fuste stick, boat, fr. L. fustis cudgel. Cf. 1st Fust.] A light and fast-sailing ship. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.