or Foule, in the sea-language, is used when a ship has been long untrimmed, so that the grass-weeds, or barnacles, grow to her sides under water. A rope is also foul when it is either tangled in itself, or hindered by another, so that it cannot run or be over-hauled.

Foul imports, also, the running of one ship against another. This happens sometimes by the violence of the wind, and sometimes by the carelessness of the people on board, to ships in the same convoy, and to ships in port by means of others coming in. The damages occasioned by running foul, are of the nature of those in which both parties must bear a share. They are usually made half to fall upon the sufferer, and half upon the vessel which did the injury; but in cases where it is evidently the fault of the master of the vessel, he alone is to bear the damage.

Foul Water. A ship is said to make foul-water, when, being under sail, she comes into such shoal-water, that though her keel do not touch the ground, yet it comes so near it, that the motion of the water under her raises the mud from the bottom.

Foul is also a disease in cattle, proceeding from blood, and a watery rheum that falls down into the legs, and makes them swell.

Foul or Pimpled Face. See Gutta Pericula.