obstruent
/ˈɒbstrʊənt
/noun Phonetics
A fricative or plosive speech sound.The grid shows that only obstruents (STOP and fricative consonants) enter into the voiced/voiceless distinction....
- She also found a sex-linked effect with initial sonorants vs. obstruents: obstruents were hotter on males, sonorants on females, though only the female effect was significant.
- No such requirement holds if the first of the coda consonants is not an obstruent.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from Latin obstruent- 'blocking up', from the verb obstruere.