muffling

transitive verb muffled, muffling

1. to wrap up in a shawl, blanket, cloak, etc. so as to hide, keep warm, or protect
2. Now Rare to keep (a person) from seeing or speaking by wrapping up the head
3. to wrap or cover in order to deaden or prevent sound
4. to deaden (a sound), as by wrapping
5. to prevent the expression of; stifle

Origin: ME muflen, prob. akin to OFr enmouflé, muffled < moufle, a mitten: see muff

noun

1. Now Rare a wrap, covering, etc. used for muffling
2. an oven in which pottery, etc. can be fired without being exposed directly to the flame
3. the fleshy bare part of the upper lip and nose of certain mammals, as ruminants or rabbits