muzzle
[ muhz-uhl ]
/ ˈmʌz əl /
noun
the mouth, or end for discharge, of the barrel of a gun, pistol, etc.
the projecting part of the head of an animal, including jaws, mouth, and nose.
a device, usually an arrangement of straps or wires, placed over an animal's mouth to prevent the animal from biting, eating, etc.
verb (used with object), muz·zled, muz·zling.
to put a muzzle on (an animal or its mouth) so as to prevent biting, eating, etc.
to restrain from speech, the expression of opinion, etc.: The censors muzzled the press.
Nautical.
to attach the cable to the stock of (an anchor) by means of a light line to permit the anchor to be pulled loose readily.
Origin of muzzle
1350–1400; Middle English
musel < Middle French < Medieval Latin
mūsellum, diminutive of
mūsum snout < ?
Words nearby muzzle
muzhik,
muzorewa,
muztag,
muztagata,
muzz,
muzzle,
muzzle velocity,
muzzle-loader,
muzzleloader,
muzzler,
muzzy
Example sentences from the Web for muzzle
British Dictionary definitions for muzzle
muzzle
/ (ˈmʌzəl) /
noun
the projecting part of the face, usually the jaws and nose, of animals such as the dog and horse
a guard or strap fitted over an animal's nose and jaws to prevent it biting or eating
the front end of a gun barrel
verb (tr)
to prevent from being heard or noticed
to muzzle the press
to put a muzzle on (an animal)
to take in (a sail)
Derived forms of muzzle
muzzler, nounWord Origin for muzzle
C15
mosel, from Old French
musel, diminutive of
muse snout, from Medieval Latin
mūsus, of unknown origin