Forms: 6 baffull, 7 baffol, -oul, -ul, -il(l, -el, 6–9 baffle. [Etymology, and even immediate source, uncertain. Quoted in 1548 as Scotch, and in 1570 used by a Scotchman. Hence, naturally to be compared with Sc. bauchle, found in senses 1–3, from a century earlier, but itself of uncertain derivation. On the other hand we have F. beffler (Cotgr.) ‘to deceive, mocke, or gull with faire words,’ etc. (cf. sense 4), and bafouer, in Cotgr. baffoüer, ‘to hoodwinke; to deceive; to besmeare; also to baffle, abuse, reuile, disgrace, handle basely in tearmes, give reproachfull words of or vnto.’ Of these, beffler (in Rabelais, 1533–53) is easily referred to OF. befe, beffe mockery, beffer to mock, beferie quibbling, deceit, = It. beffa, Sp. befa, OSp. and Pr. bafa, mockery, banter, It. beffare, Sp. befar, Pr. bafar, to mock, deride (which M. Paul Meyer would derive from Pr. baf! interjection expressing disdain), with which words also (though less securely) Diez and others connect bafouer, cited first from Montaigne, 1588–92. It is possible that two or even three distinct words are confused under baffle.]
I. To disgrace. (Cf. Sc. BAUCHLE, F. bafouer.]
† 1. To subject to public disgrace or infamy; spec. to disgrace a perjured knight with infamy. Obs.
1548. Hall, Chron. (1809), 559. He was content that the Scottes shoulde Baffull hym, which is a great reproache among the Scottes, and is used when a man is openly perjured, and then they make of him an Image paynted reverted with hys heles upwarde, with hys name wonderynge cryenge and blowing out of hym with hornes.
1570. in Churchyard, Chippes (1817), 127. I will baffull your good name, sounde with the trumpet your dishonour, and paint your pictor with the heeles vpward, and beate it in despight of yourselfe.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. vii. 27. He by the heels him hung upon a tree And bafful’d so, that all which passed by The picture of his punishment might see. [See also V. iii. 37.]
1613. Beaum. & Fl., Hon. Man’s Fort., III. i. Have his disgrace talk for Tobacco shops, His picture bafful’d.
1660. Gentl. Call., v. 71. A Maxime among the Swordmen, That he that has once been baffled, is ever after an incompetent Challenger.
† 2. gen. To disgrace, treat with contumely. Obs.
1592. Nashe, P. Penilesse, 17 b. Should we … borrow all out of others … our names should be baffuld on euerie Bookesellers stall.
1609. Bp. Hall, Dissuas. Popery (1627), 642. A religion that baffoules all temporall princes, making them stand bare-foot at their great bishops gate.
1693. Shadwell, Volunteers, IV. i. This confounded beau … will tell all the town what men he bafles.
† 3. To speak to or of in terms of contempt; to vilify, ‘run down.’ Obs.
1674. Marvell, Reh. Transp., II. 291. You run down and Baffle that serious business of Regeneration.
II. To cheat, juggle, bewilder, confound, foil. [Cf. F. beffler and bafouer.]
† 4. To hoodwink, gull, cheat. Obs.
c. 1590. Greene, Fr. Bacon, v. 83. But friends are men, and love can baffle lords.
1609. Armin, Ital. Taylor (1880), 178. Such deedes must haue a reach of wit To baffill such as he.
1649. Milton, Eikon., 163. The Scots would not be baffl’d with the pretence of a Coronation Oath. Ibid. (1653), Hirelings, Wks. (1851), 360. They cry out Sacrilege, that Men will not be gull’d and baffl’d … by giving credit to frivolous Pretences of divine Right.
1726. De Foe, Hist. Devil, II. viii. (1840), 292. He had not a mind to cheat or baffle the poor man.
† 5. intr. To juggle, shuffle, quibble. Obs.
1656. Trapp, Exp. Matt. xxv. 11. Trifling and baffling with Christ.
a. 1677. Barrow, Wks., III. 180 (T.). To what purpose can it be to juggle and baffle for a time?
a. 1733. North, Life Guilford (1808), II. 78 (D.). The vexatious side baffled before the master, as long as he could, upon trifles.
† b. To baffle out or away (trans.). Obs.
1643. Milton, Divorce, Introd. Wks. (1851), 12. To have eluded and baffl’d out all Faith and chastity from the marriagebed.
1653. W. Mewe, in Hartlib, Ref. Commw. Bees, 47. Relicks of his goodness, whereof we have baffled away the better part.
† 6. trans. To bewilder, confuse, confound. Obs.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., Hen. V., 364. Let the rude Noyse of Bells enchant Dull Ears, And Bon-fires baffle Eyes.
1692. R. L’Estrange, Josephus’ Wars, I. xx. (1733), 605. And does not despair of baffling the Truth with a Trick.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Oxf. Scholars, Wks. 1730, I. 12. Their understandings have been so baffled with phrases and distinctions.
† 7. To confound, bring to confusion, bring to nought. Obs.
1649. Milton, Eikon., xxvii. 511. Whose sole word and will shall baffle … what all the wisdom of a Parlament hath bin deliberately framing.
1709. Steele & Addison, Tatler, No. 160, ¶ 15. To baffle Reproach with Silence.
1812. Crabbe, Parting Hour, 224. A wish so strong, it baffled his repose.
8. To defeat anyone in his efforts; to frustrate or confound his plans, to foil: a. a person.
1675. Traherne, Chr. Ethics, xxi. 338. He is baffled from the acquisition of the most great and beautiful things.
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., v. 81. Both the beginnings and the ends of things … all conspire to baffle us.
1753. Hogarth, Anal. Beauty, v. 24. An old cunning one has baffled, and out-run the dogs.
1883. Froude, Short Stud., IV. I. x. 111. Baffled by a problem which he has done his best to solve.
b. actions, faculties, efforts, plans.
1692. Bentley, Boyle Lect., 15. Whose Stolidity can baffle all Arguments.
1751. Johnson, Rambl., No. 177, ¶ 8. How fatally human sagacity was sometimes baffled.
1781. J. Moore, View Soc. It., I. i. 4. A rapidity which baffles all description.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 164. To baffle curiosity by dry and guarded answers.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. vii. 107. The murderer baffled pursuit.
c. Often said of the wind and weather defeating the efforts of a ship to advance.
1748. Anson, Voy., II. ix. 224. We were baffled for near a month … with tempestuous weather.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple (1863), 102. If the wind does not baffle us, we shall weather.
1860. Maury, Phys. Geog. Sea, viii. § 378. This current which baffled and beat back this fleet.
† 9. To baffle out of: to do out of by baffling (in various senses); to cheat, juggle, shuffle, confuse, cajole, manœuvre (one) out of anything. Obs.
1652. Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 467. So bold as to … endeavour to baffle him out of his Rights.
1673. Lady’s Call., I. v. § 20. 38. He … whom the fear of suffering can baffle out of anything he thinks just and honest.
1695. Parl. dissolved by Death P’cess Orange? 54. They were baffled and bantered out of their Design.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), II. xxxv. 258. Parents will not be baffled out of their children by impudent gentlemen.
III. 10. intr. To struggle ineffectually; to move, act, or exert oneself in a futile manner. (In north. dial. MAFFLE.)
1860. Times, 27 Feb., 9/5. The ill-fated ship was seen off the coast, baffling with a gale from the N.W., till at length she appeared to become unmanageable, and was driven on to the rocks.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., IV. 103. Let the Pandours baffle about.
