Stifle
Stifle , noun
[From Stiff.]
(Farriery) 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.
Collocations (1)
Stifle bone , a small bone at the stifle joint; the patella, or kneepan.
Stifle , transitive verb
[Freq. of Old English stif stiff; compare Icelandic 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 dust.
Stifled with kisses, a sweet death he dies.
I took my leave, being half stifled with the closeness of the room.
2.
To stop; to extinguish; to deaden; to quench; as, to stifle the breath; to stifle a fire or flame.
Bodies... stifle in themselves the rays which they do not reflect or transmit.
3.
To suppress the manifestation or report of; to smother; to conceal from public knowledge; as, to stifle a story; to stifle passion.
I desire only to have things fairly represented as they really are; no evidence smothered or stifled.
Stifle , intransitive verb
To die by reason of obstruction of the breath, or because some noxious substance prevents respiration.
You shall stifle in your own report.