[f. as prec. + -ING2.]
1. Bewildering; that defeats skill or endeavor.
1783. Ainsworth, Lat. Dict. (Morell), Baffling, Decipiens, deludens.
1817. Moore, Lalla R. (1824), 220. Baffling spells.
1875. Whitney, Life Lang., ix. 166. His task … is … difficult and baffling.
2. Naut. Of winds: That blow about and make straight sailing impracticable; shifting, variable.
1772–84. Cook, Voy. (1790), V. 1860. We had baffling light airs, but the wind soon settled at S.
1823. Byron, Island, II. xxi. I saw her in the doldrums; for the wind Was light and baffling.
1854. G. B. Richardson, Univ. Code, v. 798 = Have you had baffling winds?
