baf·fle / ˈbafəl/ • v. [tr.] totally bewilder or perplex: an unexplained occurrence that baffled everyone | [as adj.] (baffling) the baffling murder of her sister. • n. a device used to restrain the flow of a fluid, gas, or loose material or to prevent the spreading of sound or light in a particular direction.DERIVATIVES: baf·fle·ment n. (in sense 1 of the verb ).baf·fling·ly adv. (in sense 1 of the verb ).

baffle
A. †disgrace XVI;

B. †hoodwink XVI; foil the plans of XVII. A. perh. f. Sc. bauchle (XV) disgrace, of unkn. orig. In B we have perh. a word of different orig. rel. to F. bafouer ridicule (XVI).