Generally used in opposition to clear, and implies entangled, embarrassed, or contrary to: as "a ship ran foul of us," that is, entangled herself among our rigging. Also, to contaminate in any way.
·superl Ugly; homely; poor. II. Foul ·noun ·see Foul ball, under Foul, ·adj. III. Foul ·noun A <<B...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
To foul a plate with a man, to take a dinner with him. ...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
ugly. Derb. ...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
·adj Using language scurrilous, opprobrious, obscene, or profane; abusive. ...
·adj Using profane, scurrilous, slanderous, or obscene language. ...
Abusive. ...
May be generated by circumstances beyond control: decomposing fungi, timber injected with coal tar, ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
An anchor is said to be foul, or fouled, either when it hooks some impediment under water, or when t...
When a ship anchors in the hawse of another she gives the latter a foul berth; or she may anchor on ...
See bill of health. ...
A ship to which sea-weed, shells, or other encumbrances adhere. Also, the bottom of the sea if rocky...
One beset with reefs and breakers, offering dangerous impediments to navigation. ...
Applied to salmon in the spawning state, or such as have not for the current year made their way to ...
Synonymous with foul bottom. ...
When a vessel is riding with two anchors out, and the cables are crossed round each other outside th...
A rope entangled or unfit for immediate use. ...
That which reduces a ship to snug-sail. ...
That which prevents a ship from laying her course. ...
A vessel, by accident or bad steerage, falling in contact with another under sail. (See athwart // h...
A name given to the Gulf Stream from such a volume of warm water occasioning great perturbations in ...
Denotes danger for boats leaving the shore; watermen's fares increase with these signals. ...
To reprimand severely. (See fall aboard of, to.) ...