muzzle

[ muhz-uhl ]
See synonyms for: muzzlemuzzled on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. the mouth, or end for discharge, of the barrel of a gun, pistol, etc.

  2. the projecting part of the head of an animal, including jaws, mouth, and nose.

  1. 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.
  1. to put a muzzle on (an animal or its mouth) so as to prevent biting, eating, etc.

  2. to restrain from speech, the expression of opinion, etc.: The censors muzzled the press.

  1. 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

1
1350–1400; Middle English musel<Middle French <Medieval Latin mūsellum, diminutive of mūsum snout < ?

Other words for muzzle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use muzzle in a sentence

  • The reaper must leave something for the gleaner; even the ox cannot be muzzled as he treadeth out the corn.

  • It was a large savage animal, and was always kept muzzled at home.

  • She is a good girl—as good as God makes them; her wits as yet a bit muzzled by the custom of Friends.

    The Red City | S. Weir Mitchell
  • The Orange societies required to be placated, the Presbyterians to be muzzled, the Catholics to be suppressed.

    The Evolution of Sinn Fein | Robert Mitchell Henry
  • Other lacqueys led large stag-hounds, or wolf-dogs, of noble race, carefully muzzled to prevent accidents to passengers.

    The Abbot | Sir Walter Scott

British Dictionary definitions for muzzle

muzzle

/ (ˈmʌzəl) /


noun
  1. the projecting part of the face, usually the jaws and nose, of animals such as the dog and horse

  2. a guard or strap fitted over an animal's nose and jaws to prevent it biting or eating

  1. the front end of a gun barrel

verb(tr)
  1. to prevent from being heard or noticed: to muzzle the press

  2. to put a muzzle on (an animal)

  1. to take in (a sail)

Origin of muzzle

1
C15 mosel, from Old French musel, diminutive of muse snout, from Medieval Latin mūsus, of unknown origin

Derived forms of muzzle

  • muzzler, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012