throttle

 
Pronunciation: /ˈθrɒt(ə)l/

noun

  • 1a device controlling the flow of fuel or power to an engine: the engines were at full throttle
  • 2 archaic a person’s throat, gullet, or windpipe.

verb

[with object]
  • 1attack or kill (someone) by choking or strangling them: she was sorely tempted to throttle him figurative the revolution has throttled the free exchange of information and opinion
  • 2control (an engine or vehicle) with a throttle: it has two engines that can be throttled
  • [no object] (throttle back or down) reduce the power of an engine or vehicle by use of the throttle: the pitch of the engine fell as the driver throttled back

Derivatives

throttler

noun

Origin:

late Middle English (as a verb): perhaps a frequentative, from throat; the noun (dating from the mid 16th century in sense 2) is perhaps a diminutive of throat, but the history of the word is not clear