baffle
Syllables: baf·fleUK/ˈbæfl̩//ˈbæf(ə)l/
baffle verb: to confuse or perplex (someone) completely; to bewilder, to confound, to puzzle.
Verb (1)
baffle (third-person singular simple present baffles, present participle baffling, simple past and past participle baffled)
- To confuse or perplex (someone) completely; to bewilder, to confound, to puzzle.
- I am baffled by the contradictions and omissions in the instructions.
- They were baffled as to how the confusion could have arisen.
- To defeat, frustrate, or thwart (someone or their efforts, plans, etc.); to confound, to foil.
- And ſhould the Parlament, endu'd vvith Legiſlative povver, make our Lavvs, and be after to diſpute them peice-meale vvith the reaſon, conſcience, humour, paſſion, fanſie, folly, obſtinacy, or other ends of one man, vvhoſe ſole vvord and vvill ſhall baffle and unmake vvhat all the vviſdom of a...1649, J[ohn] Milton, “Intitl’d to the Prince of Wales.”, in ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [Eikonoklástēs] […], London: […] Matthew Simmons, […], →OCLC, page 219
- It vvas the very Courſe vvhich our Saviour [Jesus] himſelf took, vvhen the Devil plied him vvith Temptation: Still he had a ſuitable Scripture ready to repel and baffle them all, one after another; every pertinent Text urged home being a direct Stab to a Temptation.1691 November 10 (date delivered; Gregorian calendar); first published 1694, Robert South, “An Account of the Nature and Measures of Conscience: In Two Sermons on 1 John iii. 21. Preached before the...
- Synonyms:
- beat, bring down, convince, chew up, eat someone for breakfast, eat someone's lunch, flog, humble, kick ass, malavogue
- Of weather or wind: to hinder or prevent (a ship or its crew) from advancing.
- "She [the ship] behaves nobly," observed the captain, stepping aft to the binnacle, and looking at the compass; "if the wind does not baffle us, we shall weather."1833, [Frederick Marryat], chapter XV, in Peter Simple. […], volume I, London: Saunders and Otley, […], published 1834, →OCLC, page 232
- To dampen, muffle, restrain, or otherwise control (a fluid, or waves travelling through a fluid such as light or sound).
- Fleet ships encountering on the high seas / Who speak, and unto eternity diverge— / These hailed each other, poised on the loud surge / Of one of Mrs. Grundy's Tuesday teas, / Nor trimmed one sail to baffle the driving breeze.1924 August, John Crowe Ransom, “Good Ships”, in Chills and Fever: Poems, New York, N.Y.: Alfred A[braham] Knopf, →OCLC, stanza 1, page 54
- To deceive or hoodwink (someone); to gull.
- [H]ee [the king] vvas never ſvvorn to his ovvn particular conſcience and reaſon, but to our conditions as a free people; vvhich requir'd him to give us ſuch Lavvs as our ſelves ſhall chooſe. This the Scots could bring him to, and vvould not be baffl'd vvith the pretence of a Coronation Oath, after...1649, J[ohn] Milton, “Of the Differences in Point of Church Government”, in ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [Eikonoklástēs] […], London: […] Matthew Simmons, […], →OCLC, pages 162–163
- And yet they cry out ſacrilege, that men vvill not be gulld and baffl'd the tenth of thir eſtates by giving credit to frivolous pretences of divine right.1659, J[ohn] M[ilton], Considerations Touching the Likeliest Means to Remove Hirelings out of the Church. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcombe] for L[ivewell] Chapman […], →OCLC, page 65
- Followed by away or out: to deprive of (something) through cheating or manipulation; also (followed by out of), to deprive of something by cheating or manipulating (someone).
- [T]he Lavv of God pardoning and unpardoning hath bin ſhamefully branded, for vvant of heed in gloſſing, to have eluded and baffl'd out, all Faith and chaſtity from the marriagebed of that holy ſeed, vvith politick and judicial adulteries.1644, J[ohn] M[ilton], “To the Parlament of England, with the Assembly”, in The Doctrine or Discipline of Divorce: […], 2nd edition, London: [s.n.], →OCLC
- [A]ll VVriters of Ethics have uniformly declared no ſervility to be ſo ſordid and intolerable, as that of the vicious man to his Paſſions and Luſts. Top the latter, he confronts the miſcheif of being a ſlave to every man elſe; for ſuch he certainly is, vvhom the fear of ſuffering can baffle out of...1673, [Richard Allestree], “Sect[ion] V. Of Piety.”, in The Ladies Calling. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the [Sheldonian] Theatre, →OCLC, part I, page 95
- To expend effort or struggle in vain.
- The ship, baffling with the winds, moved not an inch.
- [He] let the Pandours baffle about, checked only by the fortified Towns, and more and more submerge the Hill Country.1864, Thomas Carlyle, “Friedrich in Silesia; Unusually Busy”, in History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Called Frederick the Great, volume IV, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, book XV, page 103
- Synonyms:
- maffle
- To argue or complain in a petty or trivial manner; to quibble.
- But if any one of thoſe ſharp arrovvs of divine truth vvhich are ſhot from heaven, vvhich thou haſt heard of, ſeen, and received into thy breſt, vvhich thou canſt vvith no colour of reaſon deny, or repel, and vvhich vvith much adoe thou baffleſt and ſhuffleſt off to a kind of cavilling unbelief; I...1658, John Gauden, “[Impenitence Riseth from Unbelief]”, in Funerals Made Cordials: In a Sermon Prepared and (in Part) Preached at the Solemn Interment of the Corps of the Right Honorable Robert...
- Were it not strangely absurd and unhandsome to say, I cannot wait on God, because I must speak with a friend; […] [I]s it then just or seemly, by such comparisons to disparage his favor, by such pretences to baffle with his goodness?a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “Sermon VII. Of the Duty of Prayer.”, in The Works of Dr. Isaac Barrow. […], volume I, London: A[braham] J[ohn] Valpy, […], published 1830, →OCLC, page 157
Noun (1)
baffle (countable and uncountable, plural baffles)
- A device used to dampen, muffle, restrain, or otherwise control the movement of a fluid, or waves travelling through a fluid such as light or sound; specifically, a surface positioned inside an open area to inhibit direct motion from one place to another without preventing motion altogether.
- Tanker trucks use baffles to keep the liquids inside from sloshing around.
- A lever for operating the throttle valve of a winding engine.
- A device to prevent the spreading of sound or light.
- sound baffle
- At Hackney Downs, the sun baffle and overhanging eaves completely shade the signal room from direct sunlight, and the whole of the sky down to the horizon is hidden from the signalman's view.1960 May, “New Signalboxes at Hackney Downs and Barking”, in Railway Magazine, page 309
- A barrier designed to obstruct and confuse enemies, rendering them vulnerable.
- An argument or objection based on an ambiguity of wording or similar trivial circumstance; a minor complaint; a quibble.
- As to Nonplus an Ariſtotle vvould look, not only like a Slur to a particular Philoſopher, but like a Baffle to Philoſophy it ſelf.1661 December 19 (date delivered; Gregorian calendar); first published 1698, Robert South, “False Foundations Removed, and True Ones Laid for such Wise Builders as Design to Build for Eternity. In a...
Verb (2)
baffle (third-person singular simple present baffles, present participle baffling, simple past and past participle baffled)
- To publicly disgrace (someone); specifically, a recreant knight.
- And after all, for greater infamie, / He by the heeles him hung vpon a tree, / And baffuld ſo, that all vvhich paſſed by, / The picture of his puniſhment might ſee, / And by the like enſample vvarned bee, / Hovv euer they through treaſon doe treſpaſſe.1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 27, page 443
- Then have the coppies of it paſted on poſts, / Like Phamplet titles that ſue to be ſold; / Have his diſgrace talk for Tobacco ſhops, / His picture bafful'd.1612–1613, Nathan Field, John Fletcher, Philip Massinger, “The Honest Mans Fortune”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647...
- To treat (someone) with contempt; to disgrace; also, to speak of (someone or something) in contemptuous terms; to speak ill of, to vilify.
- Should we (as you) borrow all out of others, and gather nothing of our selues, our names would be baffuld on euerie booke-sellers stall, and not a chandler's mustard-pot would wipe his mouth with our wast paper.1592, Thomas Nash[e], Pierce Penilesse His Supplication to the Deuill. […], London: […] [John Charlewood for] Richard Ihones, […], →OCLC
- A Religion, that baffoules all temporall Princes, making them ſtand bare-foote at their great Biſhops gate, lye at his foote, holde his ſtirrup, yea their ovvne Crovvnes at his Curteſie, exempting all their Eccleſiaſticall Subiects from their iuriſdiction, and (vvhen they liſt) all the reſt from...1609, Jos[eph] Hall, “A Serious Disswasive from Poperie”, in The Peace of Rome. Proclaimed to All the World, by Her Famous Cardinall Bellarmine, and the No Lesse Famous Casuist Navarre. […], London...
Noun (2)
baffle (countable and uncountable, plural baffles)
- Intentional insult; affront; also, disgrace; (countable) an instance of this.
- Novv that you intend to trail a Pike, and make Profeſſion of Arms, let me give you this Caveat, that nothing muſt be more precious to you than your Reputation. […] If you get but once handſomely off, you are made ever after; for you vvill be free from all Baffles and Affronts.1634 August 12 (Gregorian calendar), James Howell, “XIV. To My Cousin Mr. J. P. at Gravesend.”, in Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ. Familiar Letters Domestic and Forren. […], 3rd edition, volume II, London: […]...
baffle meaning in Tamil, Urdu, Bengali and Malayalam
baffle in Tamil
- குழப்பமடையச் செய், குழப்பு, தடு, தடு தகடு, தடுக்கை, தடுப்பு
baffle in Urdu
- چکرا دینا, دھوکا دینا, موڑ دینا, راستہ بند کر دینا, رکاوٹ ڈالنا
baffle in Bengali
- হতবুদ্ধি করা, বিভ্রান্ত করা
baffle in Malayalam
- ചിന്താക്കുഴപ്പത്തിലാക്കുക
More languagesFewer languages
- baffle in Kannada
- ಕಕ್ಕಾಬಿಕ್ಕಿಮಾಡು, ದಿಗ್ಭ್ರಮೆಗೊಳಿಸು, ನಿಷ್ಫಲಗೊಳಿಸು, ಕಕ್ಕಾಬಿಕ್ಕಿಯಾಗು
- baffle in Persian
- گیج کردن gij kardan
Examples of baffle in a sentence
- All thoſe Heights and Depths vvhich vve novv ſtand ſo much amazed at, and vvhich ſo confound and baffle the ſubtleſt and moſt Piercing Apprehenſion, ſhall then be made Clear, Open and Familiar to us.1694 May 8 (date delivered; Gregorian calendar); first published 1698, Robert South, “Christianity Mysterious, and the Wisdom of God in...
- Every abſtruſe Problem, every intricate Queſtion vvill not baffle, diſcourage or break it.a. 1705, John Locke, “Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, in Posthumous Works of Mr. John Locke: […], London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn]...
- There's a riddle now might baffle all the lawyers backed by the ghosts of the whole line of judges:—like a hawk's beak it pecks my brain.1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “The Chase—Second Day”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper &...
- Chartophylax then obſerved hovv fatally human ſagacity vvas ſometimes baffled, and hovv often the moſt valuable diſcoveries are made by chance.1751 December 6 (Gregorian calendar), Samuel Johnson, “No. 177. Monday, November 26. 1751.”, in The Rambler, volume VII, Edinburgh: […]...
Synonyms of baffle
30 more synonymsFewer synonyms
Antonyms
Forms of baffle
| Verb | |
|---|---|
| third-person singular present | baffles |
| present participle | baffling |
| past participle | baffled |
| past | baffled |
| alternative form | baffol |
| alternative form | bafful |
| second-person singular present (archaic) | bafflest |
| second-person singular past (archaic) | baffledst |
| third-person singular present (archaic) | baffleth |
| Noun | |
| plural | baffles |
Origin of baffle
The origin of the verb is uncertain; it is possibly: * from French bafouer, baffoüer (“to abuse, revile; to confuse, baffle; to deceive; to flout; to scorn”), imitative of someone making a disdainful sound by expelling air quickly through pouted lips (compare Occitan baf (interjection expressing disdain)); or * from French befer, beffer, beffler (“(obsolete) to deceive; to mock, ridicule”) (compare Old French befe, beffe, buffe (“deception; mockery”); beferie (“deceit; quibbling”)), possibly from bafouer: see above. The noun is derived from the verb. Cognates * Italian beffare (“(verb) to deride, mock”), beffa (“(noun) banter; mockery”) * Occitan bafar (“(verb) to deride, mock”), bafa (“(noun) banter; mockery”) * Old Spanish bafa (modern Spanish befa (“(noun) banter; mockery”)) * Spanish befar (“(verb) to deride, mock”)
The origin of the verb is uncertain; it is possibly from Scots bauchle (“to annoy; to cause harm or trouble to; to disgrace; to jilt; to treat with contempt”), from bauchle (“useless or worn-out person or thing; clumsy work, bungle; clumsy or untidy person; contemptible person; laughing stock”); further etymology uncertain, possibly related to bauch (“feeble, sorry; backward, foolish”, adjective), possibly related to Old Norse bagr (“awkward, clumsy”), bāgr (“hard up, poor; uneasy”) The noun is derived from the verb.
Words formed from baffle
Phrases with baffle
Words that rhyme with baffle
Questions about baffle
- What does baffle mean?
- Baffle means to confuse or perplex (someone) completely; to bewilder, to confound, to puzzle.
- What is baffle in Tamil?
- Baffle in Tamil is குழப்பமடையச் செய், குழப்பு, தடு. See Baffle meaning in Tamil.
- How do you use baffle in a sentence?
- All thoſe Heights and Depths vvhich vve novv ſtand ſo much amazed at, and vvhich ſo confound and baffle the ſubtleſt and moſt Piercing Apprehenſion, ſhall then be made Clear, Open and Familiar to us.
- What part of speech is baffle?
- Baffle can be a verb or a noun.
- How do you pronounce baffle?
- Baffle is pronounced /ˈbæfl̩/ (UK).
- What is the past tense of baffle?
- The past tense of baffle is baffled.
Words near baffle in the dictionary
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: baffle (page history and authors); baffle (Tamil Wiktionary) (page history and authors); baffle (Urdu Wiktionary) (page history and authors); baffle (Bengali Wiktionary) (page history and authors); baffle (Malayalam Wiktionary) (page history and authors); baffle (Kannada Wiktionary) (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: En-us-baffle.ogg.
Cite this entry: “baffle.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/baffle. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.