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baf·fle

(băfəl)

tr.v. baf·fled, baf·fling, baf·fles

1. To confuse or perplex, especially so as to frustrate or prevent from taking action: a patient whose condition baffled the physicians.

2. To impede the force or movement of (a fluid).

1. A usually static device that regulates the flow of a fluid or light.

2. A partition that prevents interference between sound waves in a loudspeaker.

[Perhaps blend of Scottish Gaelic bauchle, to denounce, revile publicly, and French bafouer, to ridicule.]

baffle·ment n.

baffler n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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