v. [UN-2 4.] trans. To deprive of voice; spec. in Phonetics, to utter with ‘breath’ in place of ‘voice.’
1637. N. Whiting, Albino & B., 402. As though an Incubus … Enclaspt their bosomes, and un-voyc’d their tongues. Ibid., 702.
1879. Sweet, Coll. Papers (1913), 456. In Russian, as in French, a high final vowel is often unvoiced after a breath stop. Ibid. (1888), Eng. Sounds, 19. Liquids and nasals are not often unvoiced.
Hence Unvoicing vbl. sb.
1887. Skeat, Eng. Etym., Ser. I. 392. Unvoicing of voiced consonants.
1888. Sweet, Eng. Sounds, 198. This unvoicing of weak stops.
