Pa. t. and pa. pple. spoiled, spoilt. Forms: 4 spoili, 4– spoil, 4–6 spoyll, spoill (5 spoillen), 4–7 spoyle (5 -yn), spoile, 4–8 spoyl, 9 dial. spile, spwile; 4–5 spuyl(e, 5 spulen, spole. See also SPULYIE v. [ad. OF. espoillier (espollier), = It. spogliare:—L. spoliāre, f. spolium: see SPOIL sb. 5, 6. Perh. also to some extent an aphetic form of DESPOIL v.
There are striking gaps in the continuity of some of the earlier senses (cf. the sb.), and in senses 10–14 spoil has taken the place of the earlier SPILL v. The use of spoilt as well as spoiled for the pa. t. and pa. pple., dating from the 17th cent., is restricted to senses 11–14.]
I. 1. trans. To strip or despoil (a dead or helpless person); esp. to strip (a defeated or slain enemy) of arms and armor. (Cf. 6.) Now arch.
13[?]. Coer de L., 2058. The Griffons … Grete slaughter of our English maked, And spoiled the quick all naked.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 5432 (P.). Þat ylke noble Hamon Romayn Spoiled a Breton þat was slayn.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 6416. To spoile that spilt kyng he sped ferr.
1450. Rolls of Parlt., V. 212/2. The same mysdoers … murdred and slough the seid William Tresham and spoiled him and robbed hym.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., VI. (1811), 160. The prysoners … were so nere spoylyd, that they were fayne to take vyne leuys to couer with theyr secret membrys.
1600. Holland, Livy, LXXIX. 1249. When the conquerour was in disarming and spoiling him whom he had slaine.
1715. Pope, Iliad, IV. 584. The Greeks with shouts press on, and spoil the dead.
1757. W. Wilkie, Epigoniad, II. 46. To spoil the slain the ardent victor flew.
1870. Bryant, Iliad, IV. I. 129. So did the high-born Ajax spoil the corpse of Simoïsus.
† b. To disrobe, unclothe (a person); to divest of clothes. Obs.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xlvi. (Anastasia), 216. Þare-for he spoylit þaim in hy, þat he mycht nakit se þare flesch.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 318 (Petworth MS.). He bade Þat wommen shulden spulen hir riȝt þere.
1388. Wyclif, 2 Cor. v. 4. For that we wolen not be spuylid, but be clothid aboue.
† c. refl. To unclothe, undress or disarm (oneself). Also with double object. Obs. rare.
1382. Wyclif, Song Sol. v. 3. I spoilede me my coote.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4962. Þe kyng at his comaundment with his kniȝtis him spoilis, Puttis of to þe selfe serke.
† d. To strip or take off (arms). Obs.–1
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XV. 492. While these made-in to spoil his arms.
2. To strip (persons) of goods or possessions by violence or force; to plunder, rob, despoil. Also fig. Now rare or arch.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, ii. 9. Þou sall noght be tyraunt til þaim, to pil þaim & spoile þaim.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1774. With mony a legioun ful large, with ledes of armes, Þat now has spyed a space to spoyle Caldeez.
1382. Wyclif, Exod. xii. 36. The Lord ȝaf grace to the puple before the Egipciens, that thei wolden lene hem; and thei spuyleden the Egipciens.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), III. vii. 54. By fals menes and subtyll extorcion they haue spoyled the pore peple.
1526. Tyndale, Acts ix. 21. Ys not this he that spoylled them which called on this name?
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. v. 4. [They] had robbed & spoyled him. but … had restored vnto him that which was taken from him.
1624. Quarles, Job Milit., xiii. 55. Thy hands … have spoyl’d The hopelesse Widdow, with her helplesse Child.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xvii. 85. To robbe and spoyle one another, has been a Trade.
1692. Washington, trans. Milton’s Def. People Eng., M.’s Wks. 1738, I. 491. We ought to pray for Highway-men, and for our Enemies…. Not that they may plunder, spoil and murder us; but that they may repent.
1851. D. Wilson, Preh. Ann., IV. i. 490. The native chiefs of the [Orkney] islands and neighbouring coasts who had been spoiled and driven from their possessions by the Vikings.
1884. Rider Haggard, Dawn, xxviii. He might even be able to spoil that Egyptian George.
transf. 1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 268. He spoils the Saffron Flow’rs, he sips the Blues Of Vi’lets.
† b. In pass. with objective complement. Obs.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), IV. 443. Symple men were spoylede theire goodes.
3. To pillage or plunder (a country, city, house, ship, etc.); to clear of goods or valuables by the exercise of superior force; to ravage or sack. Common in the 17th c.; now arch.
1382. Wyclif, Exod. iii. 22. Whanne ȝe gon out, ȝe shulen not goon out voyd;… and ȝe shulen spoyle Egipte.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 327. After þat þe Danes hadde i-spoylled Londoun and Kent. Ibid., VIII. 107. Tweyne of þe kynges schippes were … i-spoyled by men of Cipres.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. 3873. Þei … cruelly begonne In al hast to spoillen þe castel.
1442. Rolls of Parlt., V. 61/1. The Janueyes … semed … to make the said Sarazynes have good knowledge of the entrees into the said Ile, and there sodenly spoiled ii. Shippes.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Macc. i. 31. When he had spoyled the cite, he set fyre on it.
1597. Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem. (1612), 269. With an armie of fiue hundred thousand men he wasted and spoyled all fields, cities, and villages that he passed by.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, II. iii. 46. Their rich tents, which seemed to be the exchequer of the East-country, spoiled.
1678. Wanley, Wond. Lit. World, V. ii. § 25. 470/1. In which Tumult the City was sack’d and spoiled.
a. 1727. Newton, Chronol. Amended (1728), 20. Sesac spoils the Temple, and invades Syria.
1765. Lyttleton, Hist. Hen. II. (1769), II. 339. The enemy … entered triumphant into Hereford, spoiled and fired the city, razed the walls to the ground [etc.].
1858. G. Macdonald, Phantastes (1878), II. 124. They proceeded, by spoiling the country houses around them to make a quite luxurious provision.
1859. Tennyson, Guinevere, 136. To slay the folk, and spoil the land.
transf. 1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 23. He spoyleth his barnes for the sede, and spendeth his goodes to sowe his grounde.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., IV. (1586), 183 b. When you have thus spoyled your Hiues, you shall carry all your Coames into some handsome place.
1601. Donne, Progr. Soule, xxix. Foules they [i.e., fish] pursue not, nor do undertake To spoile the nests industrious birds do make.
† b. = HARRY v. 2 b. Obs.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xiii. 57. Þe same tyme þat he went till hell and heried it, þe same tyme sall he spoile þe werld.
a. 1450. Myrc, Par. Pr., 509. The eleuenþe [article of the creed] ys for to telle How he wente to spoyle helle.
1563. Homilies, II. Resurrection. Thus is death swalowed vp, by Christes victory, thus is hell spoyled for euer.
1659. Pearson, Creed, V. 507. Thus still the Fathers which speak of [Christ’s] spoiling hell, of leading captivity captive.
4. To seize (goods) by force or violence; to carry off as spoil; to rob or steal; to take out of or away improperly. Obs. or arch.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1285. Alle he spoyled spitously in a sped whyle, Þat Salomon so mony a sadde ȝer soȝt to make.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., I. 21. Þei han more bisynes to spuyle fro men þer worldely goodis.
1529–30. Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 353. To arrest Fold … for dyuers thinges spoillid out of our said house contrary to the Custom of the Cittie.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 400 b. What thinge soever was founde there,… it was spoyled.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. xv. 15 b. [He] put his men there on land to ouerrun, rauish & spoile, all whatsoeuer they shuld find for their aduantage.
1611. Bible, Mark iii. 27. No man can … spoile his goods, except he will first bind the strong man.
1781. Cowper, Expost., 62. Jerusalem a prey, her glory soil’d, Her princes captive, and her treasures spoil’d.
1819. Shelley, ‘Men of England,’ iii. That these stingless drones may spoil The forced produce of your toil?
transf. 1549–62. Sternhold & H., Ps. xlix. 5. Or els my foes which at my heeles are prest my life to spoyle?
1560. Bible (Geneva), Prov. xxii. 23. For the Lord wil … spoile the soule of those that spoile them.
† b. To detract from. Obs.–1
1553. Eden, Treat. New Ind. (Arb.), 5. Wherfore if honest commendacions be a iust reward dew to noble enterprises, so much do they robbe and spoyle from ye dignitie therof, which in any poynt diminishe the same.
5. absol. To commit or practise spoil or pillage; to plunder, ravage.
c. 1400. Siege Melayne, 986. Þou bygynnes sone for to spoyle,… Thou settis more by a littill golde … Þan to fighte one goddes foo.
1535. Coverdale, Job xxiv. 5. The wilde asses in ye deserte go by tymes (as their maner is) to spoyle.
1597. Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem. (1612), 269. On this manner he went spoyling through Fraunce.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., 719. The Danes robbing, and spoiling wherever they came.
1816. Scott, Antiq., xxviii. A soldier! then you have slain and burnt, and sacked and spoiled?
1867. Tennyson, Victim, ii. But still the foeman spoil’d and burn’d.
II. (Const. of.) 6. To strip (a person, body, etc.) of arms, clothes, or the like. (Cf. 1.) Also refl. Now arch.
13[?]. Seuyn Sages, 500 (W.). He het his sone take, And spoili him of clothes nake.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xlix. (Thecla), 204. Son ves tecla … spoylit of hir clathis.
1388. Wyclif, Lev. vi. 11. He schal be spuylid of the formere clothis.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., iv. 9 (Harl. MS.). Iff ony man weere so hardy for to spoyle him of his armys, after þat he were y-buried, he shuld lese his life.
1497. Bp. Alcock, Mons Perfect., C iij. He wol spoyll hymself of all his garmentes to the entent that his adversary sholde haue noo holde of hym.
1514. Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshman (Percy Soc.), 6. They spoyle the lambes and foxys of the skynne.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. ii. 33. Where they are well receiu’d, and made to spoile Themselues of soiled armes.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XVI. 462. If I be taken hence Spoiled of mine arms.
1720. Strype, Stow’s Surv. (1754), I. III. i. 529/2. The parson … caused his Monument to be broken, his Body to be spoiled of his leaden sheet.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), I. 151. Cleonnis killed eight Spartans … and spoiled them of their arms.
1870. Bryant, Iliad, XV. II. 102. See’st thou not how eagerly the Greeks Are spoiling Dolops of his arms?
† b. To strip (a tree) of bark. Obs. rare.
Cf. SPOILED ppl. a. 2.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, VI. lxxv. 756. The timber waxeth red, assoone as it is spoyled of his rinde.
1653. Blithe, Eng. Improver Impr., 166. And if you spoil them [beech trees] of their Barque they die.
† 7. refl. To divest or rid (oneself) of sins, etc.
a. 1395. Hylton, Scala Perf., II. xxxi. (W. de W., 1494). Spoyle yourself of the olde man with all his dedes.
c. 1440. Mor. Wisdom, 1140, in Macro Plays, 73. Spoyll yow of yowur olde synnys & foly.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Col. iii. 9. Spoiling your selues of the old man.
8. To deprive, despoil, pillage, or rob of something. † Also const. from (= of).
Very common in the 16th cent.; now arch.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4419. Ȝe lett men of þar libertes…, Thryngis þam in-to thraldom & of thaire þede spoiles.
1461. Rolls of Parlt., V. 478/2. To have spoiled the Coroune of Englond therof, as they didde of the seid Toune.
1526. Skelton, Magnyf., 1876. Here Magnyfycence is beten downe and spoylyd from all his goodys and rayment.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 145. He overruled the Nobility and outfaced the Clergie, spoiling both the one and the other of their livings.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 60. The King … banished him into the vtmost bounds of Chanaan, hauing first spoiled him of all his goods.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. ii. III. xv. (1651), 137. Others … spoile Parsons of their revenews.
1703. Pope, Thebais, 104. My sons their old, unhappy sire despise, Spoil’d of his Kingdom, and depriv’d of eyes.
1838. Arnold, Hist. Rome, I. 44. Many were they whom he spoiled of their goods.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), IV. 706. He had spoiled many men wrongfully of their inheritance.
b. To deprive or despoil of some quality, distinction, etc.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 195. Wyntir … Spoleth tre and herbe of al ther fresshe bewte.
1495. Trevisa’s Barth. De P. R., II. xx. (W. de W.), 47. Though fendes ben obstynate in euyll yet they arn not spoylled of sharpe wytte.
1558. Knox, First Blast (Arb.), 11. God by the order of his creation hath spoiled woman of authoritie and dominion.
1586. T. Rogers, 39 Art., i. (1633), 7. Spoyling so both the Son, and holy Ghost of their deity, and the whole Trinity of their properties.
1630. Prynne, Anti-Armin., 117. It spoils the Lord of the very glory of his grace.
1691. T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., p. xiii. The ‘Constant Warwick’ … was in its repairing spoiled of the excellency of its sailing.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 263, ¶ 4. Anger spoils the Person against whom it is moved of something laudable in him.
1756. Burke, Subl. & B., Wks. 1842, I. 40. When you do this, you spoil it of every thing sublime.
1833. Mrs. Browning, Prometh. Bound, Poems 1850, I. 143. Having spoiled the gods Of honours, crown withal thy mortal men.
1858. G. Macdonald, Phantastes, vi. 76. She was giving me, spoiled of my only availing defence, into the hands of my awful foe.
III. † 9. To carve or cut up (a hen). Obs.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 470. Sp[o]ylyn, or dysmembryn as menn don caponys or other fowlys,… artuo.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, F vij b. An Hen spoylede.
1508–13. Bk. Keruynge, a j b. Spoyle that henne, frusshe that chekyn.
a. 1661. Holyday, Juvenal (1673), 78. ’Tis no small difference, with what gesture men Of Art Vnlace a Hare and Spoil a Hen.
1739. R. Bull, trans. Dedekindus’ Grobianus, 228. To spoil the fattest Hen our Youth was bid, And this anon he literally did.
† 10. To destroy, bring to an end. Obs.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 44. The birde Trochilus lyueth by the mouth of the Crocodile and is not spoyled.
1581. Studley, trans. Seneca’s Trag., Hercules Œtæus, III. I spoylde thy father Hercules; this hand, this hand aleare Hath murdred him.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., V. 37. For Gods sake take a house, This is some Priorie, in, or we are spoyl’d.
1640. trans. Verdere’s Rom. of Rom., II. 123. I was ready to have spoiled you, if you had persisted in your malice.
1724. Lond. Gaz., No. 6305/1. The Horse … ran down a Precipice and was spoil’d.
1726. Shelvocke, Voy. round World, 241. Our launch being with the head towards the sea, I thought we were irretrievably spoil’d now.
refl. 1616. Pasquil & Kath., V. 47. [Stage direction. He drawes his Rapier.] Winif. Heele spoile himselfe: Let’s run and call for helpe!
† b. To inflict serious bodily injury upon (an animal or person). Obs. (merged in 11).
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., 119. It must be sene to, that they be euen matched, least the stronger [horse] spoyle the weaker.
1597. Vere, Comm., 28. The Cap-stain being too strong for my men, cast them against the ships side and spoiled many of them.
1653. H. Cogan, Diodorus Siculus, 176. In closing with the Beast he should be sure to hold him so fast as he should not be able to spoile him with his teeth.
1665. Voy. E. Ind., 381. If they strike an Horse, or Camel,… they will so break their bones, as that they will spoil, nay kill them at one blow.
† c. In pass. Of troops: To suffer severely; to be incapacitated for warfare. Obs.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low C. Wars, 155. While they were thus valiantly fighting, they were cut off by the Guns, at a great distance, and so spoiled with shot, that they were glad at last again to quit the place.
1690. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), II. 101. If our forces had continued longer before it, they had been spoiled [by excessive rain].
d. slang. To damage seriously in boxing.
1811. Sporting Mag., XXXVIII. 8. There is not a pugilist on the list whom Belcher could not spoil by a sort of gifted science.
11. To damage, impair, or injure, esp. to such an extent as to render unfit or useless; to destroy (entirely or partially) the good, valuable, or effective properties or qualities of; to mar or vitiate completely or seriously.
1563. Abp. Parker, Articles, A ij b. Whether any man … haue felled or spoiled any woode or timber in any Churche yarde.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., 44. Take heede of Swyne, that spoyle … the grounde ilfauoredly.
1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., III. Wks. 1856, I. 37. O, you spoyle my ruffe, unset my haire.
1692. Wood, Life (O.H.S.), III. 391. A great flood, all grass spoyl’d.
1717. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to C’tess Mar, 10 March. These costly napkins … were entirely spoiled before dinner was over.
1767. T. Hutchinson, Hist. Mass. Bay, II. 162. The harbours this year were much spoiled.
1798. S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., II. 475. Supper had been waiting till quite spoiled.
1826. Art of Brewing (ed. 2), 181. Of all sorts of old casks, beer vessels are the worst—as they always spoil cider.
1888. Law Times, LXXXV. 132/2. The tenant for life … is at liberty to fell such trees as are spoiling each other.
b. To ruin in respect of commerce or trade.
1618. in Foster, Eng. Factories India (1906), I. 14. The Dutch have spoyled the Moluccoes which they fought for, and spent more then they will yeild them, if quiett, in seaven yeares.
† c. To ravish or violate (a woman). Obs.
1678. Cotton, Scarron., IV. Wks. (1715), 67. I am half afraid lest he Should chance to spoil her Majesty.
1694. Motteux, Rabelais, IV. xlvii. He has spoiled me. I am undone.
d. In pass. Of persons: To have the clothes damaged with mud. rare–1.
1697. C’tess. D’Aunoy’s Trav. (1706), 132. The Coaches [go] up to the middle, so that it [sc. mud] dashes all upon you, and you are spoyled unless you either pull up the Glasses, or draw the Curtains.
12. With immaterial object: To affect injuriously or detrimentally, esp. to an irretrievable extent; to destroy or prevent the full exercise, development or enjoyment of: a. Of things or actions.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, 420. Al the Crowfootes are dangerous and hurtful,… especially the … Apium risus, the whiche taken inwardly spoyleth the senses and understanding.
a. 1586. Sidney, Astr. & Stella, Sonn. xviii. My wit doth striue those passions to defende, Which, for reward, spoile it with vaine annoyes.
1652–62. Heylin, Cosmogr., III. (1673), 213/1. He was likely to have made himself a good bargain by it; if the sudden coming of the King of Barma, had not spoiled his markets.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., III. iii. § 2. The least thought of business would quite spoile his happiness.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., III. 96. It is surrounded with ugly shops made of Wood,… which spoils the prospect of it.
1709. Tatler, No. 136, ¶ 13. The Sale of the said Clothes is spoiled by your Worship’s said Prohibition.
1752. J. Gill, Trinity, vii. 144. That beautiful antithesis between Moses and Christ is spoiled.
1812. New Bot. Gard., I. 59. It will spoil their flowering.
1866. J. Martineau, Ess., II. 208–9. A mistake in arithmetic spoils our accounts and is felt within our purse.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ Valerie’s Fate, ii. The notion worried and distracted her and spoiled the rest of her evening.
b. Of persons.
1626. Haughton’s Wom. will have her Will, IV. ii. G iij b. The Rogue is waking yet to spoyle [1616 marre] your sport.
1753. Miss Collier, Art Torment., Gen. Rules (1811), 197. But if she should object to these things, you may accuse her of affectation, and a design of spoiling company.
1775. Sheridan, Rivals, V. iii. I hope … you won’t be so cantanckerous as to spoil the party by sitting out.
1801. trans. Gabrielli’s Myst. Husb., III. 197. ‘I caught him just as he was … going out a pleasuring for the day.’ ‘Then facks, you spoiled his sport.’
1859. Tennyson, Guinevere, 450. Thou hast spoilt the purpose of my life.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, ix. I never heard of such madness. Why, you will spoil your life.
c. In the phrase to spoil all or everything.
1653. Walton, Angler, xxi. Be sure that your riches be justly got, or you spoil all.
1686. trans. Chardin’s Trav. Persia, 180. The Queen was a very beautiful Person, but her demeanor spoil’d all.
1756. A. Murphy, Apprentice, II. ii. Nay, but prithee now—I tell you you’ll spoil all—what made you stay so long?
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), IV. 144. As usual, local and internal dissensions spoiled everything.
13. a. To injure in respect of character, esp. by over-indulgence or undue lenience. Also, in weakened sense, to treat with excessive consideration or kindness.
1694. Congreve, Double-Dealer, III. iii. I swear, my dear, you’ll spoil that child.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XIV. viii. One daughter, whom, in vulgar language, he and his wife had spoiled; that is, had educated with the utmost tenderness and fondness.
1796. Mrs. Inchbald, Nature & Art, I. ix. 47. Considering the labour that was taken to spoil him, he was rather a commendable youth.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, V. i. It was discovered that he had been spoiled, and it was determined that he should be sent to school.
1838. Lytton, Alice, 14. My dear Evelyn, you are born to spoil every one.
1861. in Mrs. G. Porter, Ann. Publishing Ho. (1898), III. 60. With every respect and admiration for Tennyson, I think he is childish about criticisms. His adulators spoil him.
1888. J. Payn, Myst. Mirbridge, v. She does not spoil her eldest born.
absol. 1895. Daily News, 19 April, 4/7. It must be owned that even when she does spoil she spoils very nicely.
b. Cant and slang. (See quots.)
1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., s.v., To prevent another person from succeeding in his object,… subjects you to the charge of having spoiled him.
1884. R. C. Leslie, Sea Paint. Log (1886), 76. Well, it’s a pity spoiling a nice gent like ’im. [Note.] The expression ‘spoil a gent’ is used by such men in the sense of disgusting him with the sea and so losing a good customer.
14. intr. To lose the valuable properties or qualities; to become unfit for use; to deteriorate; to go bad, decay. Also transf.
1692. Laws Nevis, xv. (1740), 14. The Lesses were not able … to grind off what Canes lay spoiling in the Ground.
1726. Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., II. 109/1. Rain water … soon spoyls if it is kept in any vessel made of wood.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), V. 4. Lest the feathers should spoil by their violent attrition against the air.
1796. Southey, Lett. fr. Spain (1799), 457. Cargoes that are liable to spoil, such as all kinds of grain.
1828–32. Webster, s.v., Fruit will soon spoil in warm weather.
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, II. ii. ‘That sort of boy’s no use here,’ said East, ‘he’ll only spoil.’
b. To be spoiling for (a fight, etc.), to long for, to desire ardently or earnestly. Orig. U.S.
1865. Sk. fr. Cambr., 67. We are in the condition which the Yankees call ‘spoiling for a fight.’
1890. Stevenson, Lett. (1899), II. 191. The native population … chronically spoiling for a fight.
1893. Nation (N. Y.), 16 Nov., 368/2. Dr. James Martineau, who, in spite of his eighty-nine years, seemed still to be ‘spoiling for an argument.’
15. techn. (See quots. and SPOIL sb. 10.)
1847. J. Dwyer, Hydraulic Engineer., 129. The most rapid method of executing the earthwork of Railways, when the excavation exceeds the embankment, is to throw part of the excavation from the side slope to spoil.
1862. Rep. E. Ind. Rly. Co., 30. As the cuttings are comparatively few, it is intended to throw the stuff from them to spoil on either side of the line.
