v. Forms: 3–4 bisuele, -suyle, 5 beswyle, 4–6 besoyle, 7– besoil. [f. BE- 1 + SOIL v.] trans. To soil, stain, sully; also fig. Hence Besoiled ppl. a.
a. 1300. Pains of Hell, 91, in O. E. Misc., 225. And summe he sauȝ bi-suyled · as souwes … vp to þe brouwes.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 108. Thys men by-soyled beth.
c. 1450. Merlin, x. 165. His swerde all besoyled with blode of men and of horse.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, II. 164. The Remonstrance … came forth … to besoil his Majesty’s reign.
1798. Southey, Sonn., xii. Cobwebs and dust thy pinions white besoil.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., III. iv. All weather-tanned, besoiled.
