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A low, vulgar, brutal, foul-mouthed wretch; a lewd fellow. Spenser. Pope. Ribald was almost a class name in the feudal system . . . He was his patron's parasite, bulldog, and tool . . . It is not to be wondered at that the word rapidly became a synonym for everything ruffianly and brutal. Earle.

Foul matter arising from degeneration; as, rust on salted meat.

A thin, serous fluid commonly discharged from ulcers or foul wounds.

a. & n. from Scalp. Scalping iron (Surg.), an instrument used in scraping foul and carious bones; a raspatory. -- Scalping knife, a knife used by north American Indians in scalping.

or threatening aspect. Burns. A ruddy storm, whose scowl Made heaven's radiant face look foul. Crashaw.

Hence, the foul remains of anything adherent. The scurf is worn away of each committed crime. Dryden.

Containing low indecency or abuse; mean; foul; vile; obscenely jocular; as, scurrilous language. The absurd and scurrilous sermon which had very unwisely been honored with impeachment. Macaulay.

To cover with reproach or ignominy; to dishonor; to disgrace. And with foul cowardice his carcass shame. Spenser.

wale on the top side. Totten. -- To break sheer (Naut.), to deviate from sheer, and risk fouling the anchor.

degrade, disgrace, or put to shame. [Archaic] R. Browning. The famous name of knighthood foully shend. Spenser. She passed the rest as Cynthia doth shend The lesser stars. Spenser.

Sunshine; fair weather. Be it fair or foul, or rain or shine. Dryden.

i. 4. I think 't no sin. To cozen him that would unjustly win. Shak. Enthralled By sin to foul, exorbitant desires. Milton.

To wet and foul spittle, or as if with spittle. He slabbered me over, from cheek to cheek, with his great tongue. Arbuthnot.

The dead mass separating from a foul sore; the dead part which separates from the living tissue in mortification.

A foul back street of a city, especially one filled with a poor, dirty, degraded, and often vicious population; any low neighborhood or dark retreat; -- usually in the plural; as, Westminster slums are haunts for theives. Dickens.

Dirty foul. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Foul matter, like soot or coal dust; also, a spot or soil made by such matter.

Foul with snot; hence, mean; dirty. -- Snort"ti*ly, adb. -- Snot"ti*ness, n.

To make dirty or unclean on the surface; to foul; to dirty; to defile; as, to soil a garment with dust. Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained. Milton.

Stain; foulness. [R.] Bacon.