soil

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
soil1

▶noun

• 1 the upper layer of earth in which plants grow, a black or dark brown material typically consisting of organic remains, clay, and rock particles.

• 2 the territory of a particular nation.

– derivatives
soil-less adjective.

– origin ME: from Anglo-Norman Fr., perh. representing L. solium ‘seat’, by assoc. with solum ‘ground’.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
soil2

▶verb

• 1 make dirty.

  ■ make dirty by defecating in or on.

• 2 bring discredit to.

▶noun

• 1 waste matter, especially sewage.

• 2 archaic a stain.

– origin ME (as v.): from OFr. soiller, based on L. sucula, dimin. of sus ‘pig’.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
soil3

▶verb rare feed (cattle) on fresh-cut green fodder (originally for purging them).

– origin C17: perh. from soil2.