Muffler
/ˈmʌf.lɚ/noun
A covering worn around the neck or face for warmth, or a device that reduces noise.
Did you know?Muffler comes from the same root as Old French *moufler*, meaning to wrap or cover the mouth, and its older sense was basically ‘something that hushes or conceals.’
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
muffler
“A covering for the neck, throat, or face; later, a device for reducing sound.”
Old French
OF
moufler
“To wrap up, cover, or conceal.”
Vulgar Latin
VL
*muffula
“A covering or wrap for the hands or face (reconstructed form, uncertain details).”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*muk- / *mūk-
“To mute, cover, or stifle (traditional connection proposed in historical dictionaries, details uncertain).”
Modern English
English
muffler
“A scarf or neck covering; also a silencing device in an exhaust system.”
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