STIFLE (2)

stifle (2). Stifle, n. the joint of a horse next to the buttock

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Sti″fle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stifled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stifling (?).] [[Freq. of OE. stif stiff; cf. Icel. stīfla to dam up.]] 1. 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.
Stifled with kisses, a sweet death he dies. Dryden. I took my leave, being half stifled with the closeness of the room. Swift. 2. 2. To stop; to extinguish; to deaden; to quench; as, to stifle the breath; to stifle a fire or flame.
Bodies . . . stifle in themselves the rays which they do not reflect or transmit. Sir I. Newton. 3. 3. To suppress the manifestation or report of; to smother; to conceal from public knowledge; as, to stifle a story; to stifle passion.
I desire only to have things fairly represented as they really are; no evidence smothered or stifled. Waterland.