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

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