Definitions for: Stifle


[n] joint between the femur and tibia in a quadruped; corresponds to the human knee
[v] smother or suppress; "Stifle your curiosity"
[v] conceal or hide; "smother a yawn"; "muffle one's anger"; "strangle a yawn"



Webster (1913) Definition: Sti"fle, n. [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, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stifled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Stifling.] [Freq. of OE. stif stiff; cf. Icel. st[=i]fla 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.
--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 flame.

Bodies . . . 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 passion.

I desire only to have things fairly represented as
they really are; no evidence smothered or stifled.
--Waterland.


Sti"fle, v. i.
To die by reason of obstruction of the breath, or because
some noxious substance prevents respiration.

You shall stifle in your own report. --Shak.

Synonyms: dampen, knee, muffle, repress, smother, strangle

Antonyms: excite, stimulate

See Also: articulatio, articulation, choke, conquer, conquer, curb, curb, hind leg, inhibit, inhibit, joint, stamp down, stamp down, subdue, subdue, suffocate, suppress, suppress

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