Definition of "muzzle"

muzzle

/ˈmʌzəl/

noun
plural muzzles
1. The protruding part of an animal's head which includes the nose, mouth and jaws.
  Quotations
  The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes, / The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes, […]
  1915 June, T[homas] S[tearns] Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, in Prufrock and Other Observations, London: The Egotist […], published 1917, page 10
2. (slang, derogatory, by extension) A person's mouth.
3. A device used to prevent an animal from biting or eating, which is worn on its snout.
4. (firearms) The mouth or the end for entrance or discharge of a gun, pistol etc., that the bullet emerges from.
5. (chiefly Scotland) A piece of the forward end of the plow-beam by which the traces are attached.
6. (obsolete, historical) An openwork covering for the nose, used for the defense of the horse, and forming part of the bards in the 15th and 16th centuries.
verb
third-person singular simple present muzzles, present participle muzzling, simple past and past participle muzzled
1. (transitive) To bind or confine an animal's mouth by putting a muzzle, as to prevent it from eating or biting.
  Quotations
  Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Deuteronomy 25:4
2. (transitive, figuratively) To restrain (from speaking, expressing opinion or acting); to gag; to silence; to censor.
  Quotations
  Man is brow-beaten, leashed, muzzled, masked, and lashed by boards and councils, by leagues and societies, by church and state.
  1919, Boris Sidis, The Source and Aim of Human Progress
3. (transitive, obsolete) To veil, mask, muffle.
4. (transitive, obsolete) To fondle with the closed mouth; to nuzzle.
  Quotations
  Venus her self would sit Muzzling and Gazing them in the Eyes
  1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […]
5. (intransitive) To bring the muzzle or mouth near.
  Quotations
  The Bear comes directly up to him, Muzzles and Smells to him.
  1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […]

Definition of "muzzle"

muzzle

noun

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verb

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