foul (often merely a strong epithet of condemnation or disgust; 1 very freq., and in most midland and northern dials. the chief current sense; “ play”= unfair dealing Tp. I. ii. 60, Ham. I. ii. 255 is not pre-Eliz.)
1.
ugly LLL. IV. iii. 87,
H5 IV. Chor. 21
“ and ugly
witch,”
2H6 V. i. 157, Oth. II. i. 141,
Ven. 133
“hardfavour'd,
foul.”
2.
unattractive, poor in
quality
Troil. I. iii. 359
“Let us like merchants
show our foulest wares.”
3.
stormy Tp. II. i. 148 [141],
John IV. ii. 108
“So a sky,”
Oth. II. i. 34,
Ven. 456
“Gusts and foul
flaws.”
4.
grossly abusive
Meas. V. i. 304
“in mouth . . . To
call him villain”
; cf. “foul-spoken”
Tit. II. i. 58.
5.
harsh, rough H5 II. i. 59*
“If you grow with me,”
Ven. 573
“Foul words and
frowns.”
