Obs. Also 6–7 soyle, 7 soile, soyl. [f. SOIL sb.3 9.] trans. To supply or treat (land) with dung or other fertilizing matter; to manure.
1593. Norden, Spec. Brit., M’sex & Herts., II. 18. About the towne is a kinde of chalke,… a stonie Marle, more fit to make lime then to soyle the grounde.
1610. W. Folkingham, Art of Survey, I. x. 24. Brittle and fickle Mould … is best soyled with well rotted horse-dung.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xxxi. 123. The distribution of this goodly commodity … to manure their ground, which soyled with it, bears three crops in one year.
1692. South, Serm. (1697), I. 395. Just as they Soyl their Ground, not that they love the Dirt, but that they expect a Crop.
