Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MUF'FLE, v.t. [D. moffelen; G. muffeln; It. camuffare, to disguise or mask.]

1. To cover from the weather by cloth, fur or any garment; to cover close, particularly the neck and face. You must be muffled up like ladies. – Dryden. The face lies muffled up within the garment. Addison.
2. To blindfold. Alas! that love whose view is muffled still – Shak. He muffled with a cloud his mournful eyes. – Dryden.
3. To cover; to conceal; to involve. They were in former ages muffled in darkness and superstition. – Arbuthnot.
4. In seamanship, to put matting or other soft substance round an oar, to prevent its making a noise.
5. To wind something round the strings of a drum to prevent a sharp sound, or to render the sound grave and solemn.