1810, member of a gang of murderers and robbers in India who strangled their victims, from Marathi thag, thak cheat, swindler, Hindi thag, perhaps from Sanskrit sthaga-s cunning, fraudulent, possibly from sthagayati (he) covers, conceals, from PIE root *(s)teg- cover (see stegosaurus).
It may also occur in one ear or both ears. The most common reason for muffled hearing is conductive hearing loss that can be caused by a variety of factors or medical conditions including a build up of ear wax and ear infections. In most cases, however, it is treatable and does not lead to permanent hearing damage.
How to Unplug Ears. Has your hearing become suddenly worse, and you feel like somebody stuffed cotton in your ears? Several factors cause plugged ears: wax buildup, air flow blockage to the Eustachian tubes, pressure differences in the middle ear, colds and sinus illnessâall can cause your hearing to become muffled. Plugged ears can even be quite painful, as seen (and heard) with babies on airplanes.