n. [ Cf. LG. muff, D. mof, G., Dan., & Sw. muff, F. moufle mitten, LL. muffula, MHG. mouwe sleeve, D. mouw, and E. muffle, v. ] 1. A soft cover of cylindrical form, usually of fur, worn by women to shield the hands from cold. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mech.) A short hollow cylinder surrounding an object, as a pipe. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Glass Manuf.) A blown cylinder of glass which is afterward flattened out to make a sheet. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. [ Perhaps a different word; cf. Prov. E. maffle to slammer. ] A stupid fellow; a poor-spirited person. [ Colloq. ] “A muff of a curate.” Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. [ See 4. ] (Baseball) A failure to hold a ball when once in the hands. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Zool.) The whitethroat. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Muffed p. pr. & vb. n. Muffing. ] To handle awkwardly; to fumble; to fail to hold, as a ball, in catching it. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A small muff worn over the wrist. [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Muff. ] A light, spongy, cylindrical cake, used for breakfast and tea. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A dish for keeping muffins hot. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Muff, 4 & 5. ] Stupid; awkward. [ Colloq. ] [ 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 ]

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

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