Forms: 6–7 foile, foyle, 8 file, 7– foil. [Of obscure origin.
Usually regarded as f. FOIL v.1, and as denoting etymologically ‘a sword with the point foiled or blunted.’ But the vb. does not appear to have meant ‘to blunt’: the reading of the quarto in Oth. I. iii. 270, even if genuine, does not admit of this interpretation. Another suggestion is that the phrase at foils originally belonged to FOIL sb.2 in the sense of parrying, and that the name of the instrument was evolved from the phrase. It is noteworthy that FOIN sb. occurs in 17th c. in the sense of foil; possibly (in spite of the want of evidence) this goes back to the 16th c., so that foil might be an etymologizing alteration of foin, after FOIL v.1 That the word is, by some far-fetched association, a transferred use of FOIL sb.1 a leaf (cf. F. fleuret fencing foil, lit. ‘floweret,’ the button being compared to a bud) is a possibility for which at present there is no evidence.]
1. A light weapon used in fencing; a kind of small-sword with a blunt edge and a button at the point.
1594. Nashe, Unfort. Trav., 21. Iacke Leiden theyr magistrate had image or likenesse of a peece of a rustie sword like a lusty lad by his side: now I remember me, it was but a foyle neither, and he wore it, to shewe that he should haue the foyle of his Enemies, which might haue bin an oracle for his two-hande interpretation.
1606. Drumm. of Hawth., Lett., 6 Aug., Wks. (1711), 233. They would have most willingly taken the Buttons off the Foils, as their swords differed not much from common ones.
1703. Mrs. Centlivre, Beau’s Duel, III. i. I hope to see it as much a Fashion to fight with Files, as ’tis to fence with them.
1729. Art of Fencing, 3. The Sword (or File, in imitation of the Sword).
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, I. xiv. Your enemies are mine, sir; I can use the foils, as you have seen, indifferently well, and don’t think I shall be afraid when the buttons are taken off ’em.
2. pl. The exercise of fencing with foils, esp. in phrase at foils.
1600. Nashe, Summers Last Will (Grosart), 130. Giue a soldier wine before he goes to battaile, it grinds out all gaps, it makes him forget all scarres and wounds, and fight in the thickest of his enemies, as though hee were but at foyles amongst his fellows.
a. 1643. W. Cartwright, Ordinary, II. v. Credulous.… Where’s your cloak? Andrew. Going to foiles ev’n now, I put it off.
1841–44. Emerson, Ess., Prudence, Wks. (Bohn), I. 100. Entire self-possession may make a battle very little more dangerous to life than a match at foils or at football.
3. attrib., as foil-button.
1599. Marston, Sco. Villanie, III. xi. 226.
| This bumbast foile-button I once did see, | |
| By chaunce, in Livias modest company; | |
| When, after the god-saving ceremony, | |
| For want of talke-stuffe, fals to foinery; | |
| Out goes his Rapier. |
