5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Baffle  \Baf"fle\,  n. 
  1.  (Engin.) 
  a  A  deflector,  as  a  plate  or  wall,  so  arranged  across  a 
  furnace  or  boiler  flue  as  to  mingle  the  hot  gases  and 
  deflect  them  against  the  substance  to  be  heated. 
  b  A  grating  or  plate  across  a  channel  or  pipe  conveying 
  water,  gas,  or  the  like  by  which  the  flow  is  rendered 
  more  uniform  in  different  parts  of  the  cross  section 
  of  the  stream;  --  used  in  measuring  the  rate  of  flow, 
  as  by  means  of  a  weir. 
 
  2.  (Coal  Mining)  A  lever  for  operating  the  throttle  valve  of 
  a  winding  engine.  [Local,  U.  S.] 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Baffle  \Baf"fle\  (b[a^]f"f'l),  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Baffled} 
  (-f'ld);  p.  pr  &  vb  n.  {Baffling}  (-fl[i^]ng).]  [Cf. 
  Lowland  Scotch  bauchle  to  treat  contemptuously,  bauch 
  tasteless,  abashed,  jaded,  Icel.  b[=a]gr  uneasy,  poor,  or 
  b[=a]gr,  n.,  struggle,  b[ae]gja  to  push  treat  harshly,  OF 
  beffler  beffer,  to  mock,  deceive,  dial.  G.  b["a]ppe  mouth, 
  beffen  to  bark,  chide.] 
  1.  To  cause  to  undergo  a  disgraceful  punishment,  as  a 
  recreant  knight.  [Obs.] 
 
  He  by  the  heels  him  hung  upon  a  tree,  And  baffled 
  so  that  all  which  passed  by  The  picture  of  his 
  punishment  might  see  --Spenser. 
 
  2.  To  check  by  shifts  and  turns;  to  elude;  to  foil. 
 
  The  art  that  baffles  time's  tyrannic  claim. 
  --Cowper. 
 
  3.  To  check  by  perplexing;  to  disconcert,  frustrate,  or 
  defeat;  to  thwart.  ``A  baffled  purpose.''  --De  Quincey. 
 
  A  suitable  scripture  ready  to  repel  and  baffle  them 
  all  --South. 
 
  Calculations  so  difficult  as  to  have  baffled,  until 
  within  a  .  .  .  recent  period,  the  most  enlightened 
  nations.  --Prescott. 
 
  The  mere  intricacy  of  a  question  should  not  baffle 
  us  --Locke. 
 
  {Baffling  wind}  (Naut.),  one  that  frequently  shifts  from  one 
  point  to  another. 
 
  Syn:  To  balk;  thwart;  foil;  frustrate;  defeat. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Baffle  \Baf"fle\,  v.  i. 
  1.  To  practice  deceit.  [Obs.]  --Barrow. 
 
  2.  To  struggle  against  in  vain;  as  a  ship  baffles  with  the 
  winds.  [R.] 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Baffle  \Baf"fle\,  n. 
  A  defeat  by  artifice,  shifts,  and  turns;  discomfiture.  [R.] 
  ``A  baffle  to  philosophy.''  --South. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  baffle 
  n  :  controls  or  directs  flow  of  fluid  or  energy  [syn:  {baffle 
  board}] 
  v  1:  be  a  mystery  or  bewildering  to:  "This  beats  me!"  "Got  me--I 
  don't  know  the  answer!"  [syn:  {perplex},  {get},  {puzzle}, 
  {mystify},  {beat},  {bewilder},  {flummox},  {stupefy},  {stupify}, 
  {nonplus},  {gravel},  {amaze},  {dumbfound},  {trounce}] 
  2:  to  hinder  or  prevent  (the  efforts,  plans,  or  desires)  of: 
  "What  ultimately  frustrated  every  challenger  was  Ruth's 
  amazing  September  surge."  [syn:  {thwart},  {queer},  {spoil}, 
  {scotch},  {foil},  {cross},  {frustrate},  {bilk}] 
  3:  check  the  emission  of  (sound)  [syn:  {regulate}] 

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