I. ˈthrä-t ə l verb
( throt·tled ; throt·tling ˈthrät-liŋ, ˈthrä-t ə l-iŋ)
Etymology: Middle English throtelen, from throte throat
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to compress the throat of : choke
(2) : to kill by such action
b. : to prevent or check expression or activity of : suppress
policies that throttle creativity
2.
a. : to decrease the flow of (as steam or fuel to an engine) by a valve
b. : to regulate and especially to reduce the speed of (as an engine) by such means
c. : to vary the thrust of (a rocket engine) during flight
intransitive verb
: to throttle something (as an engine) — usually used with back or down
the pilot throttled back
• throt·tler ˈthrät-lər, ˈthrä-t ə l-ər noun
II. noun
Etymology: perhaps from Middle English * throtel, diminutive of throte throat
Date: circa 1547
1.
a. : throat 1a
b. : trachea 1
2.
a. : a valve for regulating the supply of a fluid (as steam) to an engine ; especially : the valve controlling the volume of vaporized fuel charge delivered to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine
b. : the lever controlling this valve
c. : the condition of being throttled
•
- at full throttle