foil
/fɔɪl/
noun
Origin
Latin
folium — leaf
Overview
Meaning Now
- A thin, flexible sheet of metal.
- A person or thing that contrasts with and so enhances the qualities of another.
- A light, flexible fencing sword with a blunt point.
Literal older meaning
leaf or leafy plant
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
foil
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The term 'foil' transitioned from describing organic leaves to thin sheets of metal because early metal-beaters hammered gold and silver into leaves as thin as those found in nature. The sense of a 'contrast' developed from the practice of placing silver or gold foil behind a gemstone to enhance its brilliance.
Evolution
- Latin
folium
“leaf”
- Old French
foil
“leaf, thin sheet”
- Middle English
foile
“thin metal leaf; leaf of a plant”
- Modern English
foil
“metal sheet, contrast, or sword”
Connections
Word parts
foil
root
leaf
Related across languages
French
feuille
leaf
Italian
foglio
sheet of paper
Spanish
hoja
leaf
Explore next
Related to foil
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.