MUFFLE

v. & n. --v.tr. 1 (often foll. by up) wrap or cover for warmth. 2 cover or wrap up (a source of sound) to reduce its loudness. 3 (usu. as muffled adj.) stifle (an utterance, e.g. a curse). 4 prevent from speaking. --n. 1 a receptacle in a furnace where substances may be heated without contact with combustion products. 2 a similar chamber in a kiln for baking painted pottery. [ME: (n.) f. OF moufle thick glove; (v.) perh. f. OF enmoufler f. moufle]