[f. FOIL v.1 + -ING1.]
1. The action of the vb. FOIL in various senses.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1559), Z. Enuy is so venomous a serpent, that there was neuer mortall man amonge mortalles, that coulde scape fro the bytynge of her tothe, and scratchynge of her nayles, foylynge of her fete, and poisonynge of her poyson.
1683. trans. Erasm. Moriæ Enc., 90. Self-conceit makes these nimble Disputants such doughty Champions, that arm’d with Three or Four close-link’d Syllogisms, they shall enter the Lists with the greatest Masters of Reason, and not question the Foiling of them in an irresistible Baffle.
2. esp. The treading of a deer or other animal. Hence the slot or trail; = FOIL sb.4
1576. Turberv., Venerie, 237. We cal it the foyling of a Deare if it be on grasse where the print of the foote cannot well be seene.
1607. Markham, Cavelarice, VIII. 36. How a Horses nose is able to direct him when hee comes to diuersity of earths, to hie waies, to the foylings of other catle, & to wet and moist places I am not able as yet to iudge.
