Associations to the word «Baffle»

BAFFLE, verb. (obsolete) To publicly disgrace, especially of a recreant knight. [16th-17th c.]

BAFFLE, verb. (obsolete) To hoodwink or deceive (someone). [16th-18th c.]

BAFFLE, verb. To bewilder completely; to confuse or perplex. [from 17th c.]

BAFFLE, verb. (now rare) To foil; to thwart. [from 17th c.]

BAFFLE, verb. (intransitive) To struggle in vain. [from 19th c.]

BAFFLE, noun. A device used to dampen the effects of such things as sound, light, or fluid. Specifically, a baffle is a surface which is placed inside an open area to inhibit direct motion from one part to another, without preventing motion altogether.

BAFFLE, noun. An architectural feature designed to confuse enemies or make them vulnerable.

BAFFLE, noun. (US) (dialect) (coal mining) A lever for operating the throttle valve of a winding engine.

BAFFLE, noun. A flat plate that controls or directs the flow of fluid or energy.

BAFFLE, verb. Be a mystery or bewildering to; "This beats me!"; "Got me--I don't know the answer!"; "a vexing problem"; "This question really stuck me".

BAFFLE, verb. Hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of; "What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge"; "foil your opponent".

BAFFLE, verb. Check the emission of (sound).