THROTTLE

I. verb (~d; throttling) Etymology: Middle English throtelen, from throte throat Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. a. to compress the throat of ; choke , to kill by such action, to prevent or check expression or activity of ; suppress , 2. to decrease the flow of (as steam or fuel to an engine) by a valve, to regulate and especially to reduce the speed of (as an engine) by such means, to vary the thrust of (a rocket engine) during flight, intransitive verb to ~ something (as an engine), ~r noun II. noun Etymology: perhaps from Middle English *throtel, diminutive of throte throat Date: circa 1547 1. throat 1a, trachea 1, 2. a valve for regulating the supply of a fluid (as steam) to an engine, the lever controlling this valve, the condition of being ~d