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Where does the word "baffle" come from? It comes from French bafouer, and was adopted directly into English (1540s).
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Where does the word "baffle" come from? It comes from French bafouer, and was adopted directly into English (1540s).
Baffle’s story begins in French: bafouer meant “to ridicule.” To ridicule; the likeliest source, though Scots 'bauchle', to disgrace, is also proposed. It reached English by 1540s as baffle. First meant to disgrace a perjured knight publicly; 'to bewilder' dates from the 1640s. Today, baffle means to bewilder or perplex.
- Stage 1 · French · 1500s bafouer "to ridicule", to ridicule; the likeliest source, though Scots 'bauchle', to disgrace, is also proposed.
- Stage 2 · English · 1540s baffle "to bewilder", first meant to disgrace a perjured knight publicly; 'to bewilder' dates from the 1640s.