(
definition)
Sty"mie v.
To present an obstacle to; to hinder; to stand in the way of
U.S. protectionism stymies efforts to expand World Trade
The origin of the word stymie (or stimie) is Scots. It's original meaning is: to obstruct a golf shot by interposition of the opponent's ball.
Until 1952, when it was abolished, "the stymie" was a notable golf match feature. If an opponent's ball obstructed a player's line to the hole, it could only be marked if it lay within six inches. This forced stymied golfers to attempt some interesting shots on the green.