Baffle
/ˈbæf.əl/noun
To confuse or bewilder someone.
Did you know?The word 'baffle' may derive from an old term meaning to defeat or thwart, creating an aura of confusion akin to ancient rituals that bewildered the senses.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
bafle
“To defeat or thwart; to confuse.”
Old French
Old French
bafer
“To confuse or perplex.”
Late Latin
Latin
baffare
“To make a noise, to baffle.”
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
baffō
“To babble or speak confusedly.”