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present participle and gerund of foul examples
countable and uncountable, plural foulings
The adhesion of a foreign material onto a surface, especially so as to reduce its functionality. quotations examples
Probably, rifling evolved from the early observation of the feathers on an arrow-and from the practical results of cutting channels in a musket, originally to reduce fouling, then because it was found to improve accuracy of the shot.
1949, Albert Manucy, “The Era of Artillery § Rifling”, in Artillery Through the Ages[:] A Short Illustrated History of Cannon, Emphasizing Types Used in America, Reprint 1985 edition, page 14