muzzle Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the open circular discharging end of a gun
    gun muzzle.
  2. noun forward projecting part of the head of certain animals; includes the jaws and nose
  3. noun a leather or wire restraint that fits over an animal's snout (especially a dog's nose and jaws) and prevents it from eating or biting
  4. noun restraint put into a person's mouth to prevent speaking or shouting
    gag.
  5. verb fit with a muzzle
    • muzzle the dog to prevent it from biting strangers
  6. verb prevent from speaking out
    gag.
    • The press was gagged
  7. verb tie a gag around someone's mouth in order to silence them
    gag.
    • The burglars gagged the home owner and tied him to a chair

WordNet

Muz"zle noun
Etymology
OE. mosel, OF. musel, F. museau muzzle or snout, LL. musellus, fr. musus, morsus. See Muse, v. i., and cf. Morsel.
Definitions
  1. The projecting mouth and nose of a quadruped, as of a horse; a snout.
  2. The mouth of a thing; the end for entrance or discharge; as, the muzzle of a gun.
  3. A fastening or covering (as a band or cage) for the mouth of an animal, to prevent eating or vicious biting.
    With golden muzzles all their mouths were bound Dryden.
Muz"zle transitive verb
Etymology
F. museler.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Muzzled ; present participle & verbal noun Muzzling
Definitions
  1. To bind the mouth of; to fasten the mouth of, so as to prevent biting or eating; hence, figuratively, to bind; to sheathe; to restrain from speech or action. "My dagger muzzled." Shak.
    Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Deut. xxv. 4.
  2. To fondle with the closed mouth. Obs. L'Estrange.
Muz"zle intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To bring the mouth or muzzle near.
    The bear muzzles and smels to him. L'Estrange.

Webster 1913