muffle
    n 1: a kiln with an inner chamber for firing things at a low
         temperature
    v 1: conceal or hide; "smother a yawn"; "muffle one's anger";
         "strangle a yawn" [syn: smother, stifle, strangle,
         muffle, repress]
    2: deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping [syn:
       muffle, mute, dull, damp, dampen, tone down]

Muffle \Muf"fle\, v. i. [Cf. F. maffle, mumble, D. moffelen.]
   To speak indistinctly, or without clear articulation.
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Muffle \Muf"fle\, n. [F. moufle, prop., a mitten, from the
   resemblance in shape. See Muffle, v. t., Muff.]
   1. Anything with which another thing, as an oar or drum, is
      muffled; also, a boxing glove; a muff.
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   2. (Metal.) An earthenware compartment or oven, often shaped
      like a half cylinder, used in furnaces to protect objects
      heated from the direct action of the fire, as in
      scorification of ores, cupellation of ore buttons, etc.
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   3. (Ceramics) A small oven for baking and fixing the colors
      of painted or printed pottery, without exposing the
      pottery to the flames of the furnace or kiln.
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   4. A pulley block containing several sheaves. --Knight.
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Muffle \Muf"fle\ (m[u^]f"f'l), n.
   The bare end of the nose between the nostrils; -- used esp.
   of ruminants.
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Muffle \Muf"fle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Muffled; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Muffling.] [Cf. F. moufle a mitten, LL. muffula, OD. moffel
   a muff. See Muff.]
   1. To wrap up in something that conceals or protects; to
      wrap, as the face and neck, in thick and disguising folds;
      hence, to conceal or cover the face of; to envelop; to
      inclose; -- often with up. --South.
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            The face lies muffled up within the garment.
                                                  --Addison.
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            He muffled with a cloud his mournful eyes. --Dryden.
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            Muffled up in darkness and superstition.
                                                  --Arbuthnot.
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   2. To prevent seeing, or hearing, or speaking, by wraps bound
      about the head; to blindfold; to deafen.
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   3. To wrap or fit with something that dulls or deadens the
      sound of; as, to muffle the strings of a drum, or that
      part of an oar which rests in the rowlock; to muffle the
      exhaust of a motor vehicle.
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