from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Soil \Soil\, n. [OE. soile, F. sol, fr. L. solum bottom, soil;
but the word has probably been influenced in form by soil a
miry place. Cf. {Saloon}, {Soil} a miry place, {Sole} of the
foot.]
1. The upper stratum of the earth; the mold, or that compound
substance which furnishes nutriment to plants, or which is
particularly adapted to support and nourish them.
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2. Land; country.
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Must I thus leave thee, Paradise? thus leave
Thee, native soil? --Milton.
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3. Dung; faeces; compost; manure; as, night soil.
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Improve land by dung and other sort of soils.
--Mortimer.
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{Soil pipe}, a pipe or drain for carrying off night soil.
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