baffle

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William Hupy
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baffle

Postby William Hupy » Mon Nov 24, 2014 10:17 am

I am bewildered, you might even say baffled, by the competing claims to the origin of this word. Is it from the German Baff machen, meaning to flabbergast? Or "bafouer" from French for abuse or hoodwink? Or Scottish "bauchle", to disgrace publicly. Personally I like that this was a sailor's term for those winds that blow variously. If you have attempted to sail a boat in winds of that nature, you will understand how perplexing that can be.
William A. Hupy

Perry Lassiter
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Re: baffle

Postby Perry Lassiter » Mon Nov 24, 2014 10:22 pm

Well my flabber is aghast that you didn't consider baffle as a wall, a windbreaker, or a sound shaper. Could the noun have come before the verb?
pl

William Hupy
Senior Lexiterian
Posts: 611
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:14 pm

Re: baffle

Postby William Hupy » Tue Nov 25, 2014 11:04 am

Dang. I intended to include that sense. Thanks for pointing it out.
William A. Hupy


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