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stifle(medicine)
stifle(4)(dictionary)
stifle(3)(dictionary)
stifle(dictionary)
stifle(2)(dictionary)
stifle(1)(dictionary)
stifle joint(medicine)
stifle bone(medicine)
Stifle - Horse Racing(gambling)

stifle (medicine)


stifle


1. To stop the breath of by crowding something into the windpipe, or introducing an irrespirable substance into the lungs; to choke; to suffocate; to cause the death of by such means; as, to stifle one with smoke or dust. "Stifled with kisses, a sweet death he dies." (Dryden) "I took my leave, being half stifled with the closeness of the room." (Swift)

2. To stop; to extinguish; to deaden; to quench; as, to stifle the breath; to stifle a fire or flame. "Bodies . . . Stifle in themselves the rays which they do not reflect or transmit." (Sir I. Newton)

3. To suppress the manifestation or report of; to smother; to conceal from public knowledge; as, to stifle a story; to stifle passion. "I desire only to have things fairly represented as they really are; no evidence smothered or stifled." (Waterland)

Origin: Freq. Of OE. Stif stiff; cf. Icel. Stifla to dam up.

To die by reason of obstruction of the breath, or because some noxious substance prevents respiration. "You shall stifle in your own report." (Shak)

<veterinary> 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. Stifle bone, a small bone at the stifle joint; the patella, or kneepan.

Origin: From Stiff.

Source: Websters Dictionary