Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Stifle
Sti′fle
,Noun.
[From
Stiff
.] (Far.)
The joint next above the hock, and near the flank, in the hind leg of the horse and allied animals; the joint corresponding to the knee in man; – called also
stifle joint
. See Illust. under Horse
. Stifle bone
, a small bone at the stifle joint; the patella, or kneepan.
Sti′fle
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Stifled
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Stifling
.] [Freq. of OE.
stif
stiff; cf. Icel. stīfla
to dam up.] 1.
To stop the breath of by crowding something into the windpipe, or introducing an irrespirable substance into the lungs; to choke; to suffocate; to cause the death of by such means;
as, to
. stifle
one with smoke or dustStifled
with kisses, a sweet death he dies. Dryden.
I took my leave, being half
stifled
with the closeness of the room. Swift.
2.
To stop; to extinguish; to deaden; to quench;
as, to
. stifle
the breath; to stifle
a fire or flameBodies . . .
stifle
in themselves the rays which they do not reflect or transmit. Sir I. Newton.
3.
To suppress the manifestation or report of; to smother; to conceal from public knowledge;
as, to
. stifle
a story; to stifle
passionI desire only to have things fairly represented as they really are; no evidence smothered or
stifled
. Waterland.
Sti′fle
,Verb.
I.
To die by reason of obstruction of the breath, or because some noxious substance prevents respiration.
You shall
stifle
in your own report. Shakespeare
Webster 1828 Edition
Stifle
STIFLE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To suffocate; to stop the breath or action of the lungs by crowding something into the windpipe, or by infusing a substance into the lungs, or by other means; to choke; as, to stifle one with smoke or dust.2.
To stop; as, to stifle the breath; to stifle respiration.3.
To oppress; to stop the breath temporarily; as, to stifle one with kisses; to be stifled in a close room or with bad air.4.
To extinguish; to deaden; to quench; as, to stifle flame; to stifle a fire by smoke or by ashes.5.
To suppress; to hinder from transpiring or spreading; as, to stifle a report.6.
To extinguish; to check or restrain and destroy; to suppress; as, to stifle a civil war in its birth.7.
To suppress or repress; to conceal; to withhold from escaping or manifestation; as, to stifle passion; to stifle grief; to stifle resentment.8.
To suppress; to destroy; as, to stifle convictions.STIFLE
,Noun.
1.
The joint of a horse next to the buttock, and corresponding to the knee in man; called also the stifle joint.2.
A disease in the knee-pan of a horse or other animal.