muffle

n. The bare end of the nose between the nostrils; -- used esp. of ruminants. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The face lies muffled up within the garment. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

He muffled with a cloud his mournful eyes. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Muffled up in darkness and superstition. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To prevent seeing, or hearing, or speaking, by wraps bound about the head; to blindfold; to deafen. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Cf. F. maffle, mumble, D. moffelen. ] To speak indistinctly, or without clear articulation. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A pulley block containing several sheaves. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. same as muted; as, muffled drums; the muffled noises of the street.
Syn. -- dull, muted, softened. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. Wrapped up especially for protection or secrecy; as, children muffled almost to the eyebrows. [ WordNet 1.5 ]