Dictionary

muzzle

Pronunciation

Noun

muzzle (plural muzzles)

The protruding part of an animal's head which includes the nose, mouth and jaws; the snout
- 1915, T.S. Eliot, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock":
  The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes,
  The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes ...
The mouth or the end for entrance or discharge of a gun, pistol etc., that the bullet emerges from as opposed to the breech.
A device used to prevent animal from biting or eating, which is worn on its snout.
(chiefly, Scotland) A piece of the forward end of the plow-beam by which the traces are attached; bridle
(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.

Translations

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Translations

Verb

muzzle (muzzles, present participle muzzling; past and past participle muzzled)

(transitive) To bind or confine an animal's mouth by putting a muzzle, as to prevent it from eating or biting.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, Deuteronomy 25:4 ↗:
  Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.
(transitive, figuratively) To restrain (from speaking, expressing opinion or acting); gag, silence, censor.
(transitive, obsolete) To veil, mask, muffle.
(transitive, obsolete) To fondle with the closed mouth; to nuzzle.
(intransitive) To bring the muzzle or mouth near.
- The bear muzzles and smells to him.

Translations

Translations

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