v. Obs. Forms: Inf. 1 be-, bifylan, 3 bifulen(ü), 4 bifilen, (Kentish) bevelen, 6 befyle, befile. [OE. befýlan, f. BE- 1 + fýlan to FILE (:—OTeut. *fûljan, f. fûl, FOUL). Afterwards superseded by BEFOUL.] trans. To make foul or dirty; to defile. Hence † Befiling vbl. sb.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., III. 208. Handa him befylde ʓesihð weorca unrihta ʓetacnað.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 272. Uorte bifulen hire mid þouhte of olde sunnen.
1340. Ayenb., 40. Maystres of gyle and of contak and of be-uelynge.
1530. Palsgr., 445/2. You have befyled your hosen with duste and you have befouled your cappe with asshes.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. (1557), 685/1. Then shall ye see … thys fayre egle byrde foule befile hys nest.
