Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
Stifle — Sti fle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Stifled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Stifling}.] [Freq. of OE. stif stiff; cf. Icel. st[=i]fla to dam up.] 1. To stop the breath of by crowding something into the windpipe, or introducing an irrespirable substance into the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Stifle — can mean: * To suffocate * To prevent from speaking or to prevent a view being heard. See free speech, gag and gagging.A stifle is also the name for an animal s knee joint. See stifle joint.* Stifle yourself, or simply Stifle! was a frequent… … Wikipedia
Stifle — Sti fle, n. [From {Stiff}.] (Far.) The joint next above the hock, and near the flank, in the hind leg of the horse and allied animals; the joint corresponding to the knee in man; called also {stifle joint}. See Illust. under {Horse}. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
stifle — stifle1 [stī′fəl] vt. stifled, stifling [altered (prob. infl. by ON stīfla, to stop up: for IE base see STIFF) < ME stuflen, freq. formation < MFr estouffer, to smother < VL * stuppare, to stuff up (see STOP), infl. by * extufare, to… … English World dictionary
Stifle — Sti fle, v. i. To die by reason of obstruction of the breath, or because some noxious substance prevents respiration. [1913 Webster] You shall stifle in your own report. Shak. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
stifle — (v.) late 14c., to choke, suffocate, drown, of uncertain origin, possibly an alteration of O.Fr. estouffer to stifle, smother, which may be from a Germanic source (Cf. O.H.G. stopfon to plug up, stuff ). Metaphoric sense is from 1570s. Related:… … Etymology dictionary
štifle — štìfle ž mn <G mn štíflā/ ī> DEFINICIJA reg. zast. čizme [obuti/izuti štifle] ETIMOLOGIJA njem. Stiefel … Hrvatski jezični portal
stifle — ► VERB 1) prevent from breathing freely; suffocate. 2) smother or suppress. 3) prevent or constrain (an activity or idea). ORIGIN perhaps from Old French estouffer smother, stifle … English terms dictionary
stifle — I verb annihilate, arrest, balk, bar, block, check, choke, conceal, constrain, contain, control, crush, damp, deaden, destroy, drown, dull, extinguish, frustrate, gag, hush, inhibit, kill, mask, muffle, mute, muzzle, obstruct, opprimere, prevent … Law dictionary
ştifle — ştífle s.f. pl. (înv. şi reg.) cizme; ghete. Trimis de blaurb, 21.02.2007. Sursa: DAR … Dicționar Român
stifle — *suffocate, asphyxiate, smother, choke, strangle, throttle … New Dictionary of Synonyms
