baffle
11baffle — balk, circumvent, outwit, foil, thwart, *frustrate Analogous words: *puzzle, mystify, confound, dumbfound: discomfit, rattle, faze, *embarrass, disconcert: *confuse, addle, muddle: *hamper, fetter, hog tie: *hinder, impede, obstruct, block …
12baffle — ► VERB ▪ totally bewilder. ► NOUN ▪ a device used to restrain or regulate the flow of sound, light, gas, or a fluid. DERIVATIVES bafflement noun baffling adjective. ORIGIN perhaps related to French bafouer ridicule …
13baffle — {{11}}baffle (n.) shielding device, 1881, from BAFFLE (Cf. baffle) (v.). {{12}}baffle (v.) 1540s, to disgrace, perhaps a Scottish respelling of bauchle to disgrace publicly (especially a perjured knight), which is probably related to Fr. bafouer… …
14baffle — [16] The etymology of baffle is appropriately baffling. Two main candidates have been proposed as a source. The first is the medieval Scots verb bawchill or bauchle, meaning ‘discredit publicly’. This fits in with the way baffle was first used:… …
15baffle — i. A series of partitions in a fuel tank to control the rapid flow of fuel and prevent its sloshing. These partitions have holes that allow the fuel to feed to the tank outlet, but they keep the fuel from surging enough to uncover the fuel outlet …
16baffle — [16] The etymology of baffle is appropriately baffling. Two main candidates have been proposed as a source. The first is the medieval Scots verb bawchill or bauchle, meaning ‘discredit publicly’. This fits in with the way baffle was first used:… …
17baffle — UK [ˈbæf(ə)l] / US verb [transitive] Word forms baffle : present tense I/you/we/they baffle he/she/it baffles present participle baffling past tense baffled past participle baffled if a problem, someone s behaviour etc baffles you, you cannot… …
18baffle — v. & n. v.tr. 1 confuse or perplex (a person, one s faculties, etc.). 2 a frustrate or hinder (plans etc.). b restrain or regulate the progress of (fluids, sounds, etc.). n. (also baffle plate) a device used to restrain the flow of fluid, gas,… …
19baffle — I. transitive verb (baffled; baffling) Etymology: probably alteration of Middle English (Scots) bawchillen to denounce, discredit publicly Date: 1675 1. to defeat or check (as a person) by confusing or puzzling ; disconcert 2. to check or break… …
20baffle — bafflement, n. baffler, n. baffling, adj. bafflingly, adv. bafflingness, n. /baf euhl/, v., baffled, baffling, n. v.t. 1. to confuse, bewilder, or perplex: He was baffled by the technical language of the instructions. 2. to frustrate or confound; …
