stymie

noun

1. Golf the condition that exists on a putting green when an opponent's ball lies in a direct line between the player's ball and the hole: since 1951, the obstructing ball may be picked up to permit a putt to be made
2. any situation in which one is obstructed or frustrated

Origin: prob. a use of earlier Scot, a person partially blind < styme < ME stime (sense obscure): the reference is to the blind shot caused by a stymie

transitive verb stymied, stymieing

1. to hinder or obstruct as with a stymie
2. to block; impede