Moil

v. t. [imp. & p. p. MOILED; p. pr. & vb. n. MOILING.] [Fr. mouiller, O. Fr. moillier, muillier, Pr. & Pg. molhar, Sp. mojar, to wet, steep; It. mollare, to slacken, loosen, ammollare, to steep, from Lat. mollis, easily movable, pliant, mild, for movĭlis, from movere, to move.] To daub; to make dirty; to soil; to defile. At first happy news came, in gay letters moiled With my kisses. E. B. Browning.

v. i. [Lat. moliri, to struggle, toil, from moles, a heavy mass. Cf. Gr. μόλος, μῶλος, the toil of war, struggle, μωλεῖν, to strive, fight.] To soil one's self with severe labor; to work with painful effort; to labor; to toil; to drudge.

Now he must moil and drudge for one he loathes. Dryden.

n. [Written also moyle.] [A-S. mál, mæl, Goth. mail, for mahli, O. H. Ger. meil, mâl, M. H. Ger. meile, mâl, N. H. Ger. meil, meil, mal, allied to Lat. macula. Cf. MAIL and MOLE.] A spot; a defilement. “The moil of death upon them.” Browning.

A mule. [Obs.] [Written also moyle.]