- soil (v.)
- early 13c., "to defile or pollute with sin," from Old French souillier "to foul or make dirty," originally "to wallow," from souil "tub, wild boar's wallow, pigsty," either from Latin solium "tub for bathing, seat," or from Latin suculus "little pig," from sus "pig." Meaning "to make dirty, begrime" is attested from c.1300. This is the sense of the noun in archaic night-soil. Related: Soiled; soiling.
- soil (n.)
- "the earth or ground," c.1300, from Anglo-French soil "piece of ground, place" (13c.), from Latin solium "seat," meaning confused with that of Latin solum "soil, ground." Meaning "mould, earth, dirt" (especially that which plants grow in) is attested from mid-15c.