To choke or strangle someone by squeezing their throat. It can also mean to control or limit the power or speed of an engine or process.
Probably from Middle English 'throtele,' a diminutive of 'throte' (throat), meaning 'windpipe.' The original sense was to choke or block the throat. As engines were invented, the word was borrowed to describe the device that 'chokes' or controls fuel and air flow.
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