v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Stifled p. pr. & vb. n. Stifling ] [ Freq. of OE. stif stiff; cf. Icel. stīfla to dam up. ] 1. To stop the breath of by crowding something into the windpipe, or introducing an irrespirable substance into the lungs; to choke; to suffocate; to cause the death of by such means; as, to stifle one with smoke or dust. [ 1913 Webster ]

Stifled with kisses, a sweet death he dies. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

I took my leave, being half stifled with the closeness of the room. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To stop; to extinguish; to deaden; to quench; as, to stifle the breath; to stifle a fire or flame. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bodies . . . stifle in themselves the rays which they do not reflect or transmit. Sir I. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To suppress the manifestation or report of; to smother; to conceal from public knowledge; as, to stifle a story; to stifle passion. [ 1913 Webster ]

I desire only to have things fairly represented as they really are; no evidence smothered or stifled. Waterland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Stiff. ] (Far.) The joint next above the hock, and near the flank, in the hind leg of the horse and allied animals; the joint corresponding to the knee in man; -- called also stifle joint. See Illust. under Horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

Stifle bone, a small bone at the stifle joint; the patella, or kneepan. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To die by reason of obstruction of the breath, or because some noxious substance prevents respiration. [ 1913 Webster ]

You shall stifle in your own report. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Stifling. [ 1913 Webster ]

The close and stifled study. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who, or that which, stifles. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mil.) See Camouflet. [ 1913 Webster ]