étouffé

adjective

étouf·​fé

¦āˌtü¦fā

: stifled, smothered

—used especially of a damping or muting of the tone on a stringed instrument (such as the harp)

Word History

Etymology

French, from past participle of étouffer to stifle, smother, mute, from Middle French estouffer to smother, suffocate

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!