I. ˈstī-fəl noun
Etymology: Middle English
Date: 14th century
: the joint next above the hock in the hind leg of a quadruped (as a horse or dog) corresponding to the human knee — see horse illustration
II. verb
( sti·fled ; sti·fling -f(ə-)liŋ)
Etymology: alteration of Middle English stuflen
Date: 1513
transitive verb
1.
a. : to kill by depriving of oxygen : suffocate
b.
(1) : smother
(2) : muffle
2.
a. : to cut off (as the voice or breath)
b. : to withhold from circulation or expression : repress
stifled our anger
c. : deter , discourage
intransitive verb
: to become suffocated by or as if by lack of oxygen : smother
stifling in the heat
• sti·fler -f(ə-)lər noun
• sti·fling·ly -f(ə-)liŋ-lē adverb