muzzle

[ muhz-uhl ]

/ ˈmʌz əl /

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See synonyms for: muzzle / muzzled on Thesaurus.com

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR muzzle

5 silence, quiet, still, suppress.

See synonyms for muzzle on Thesaurus.com

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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, muzzleloader, muzzler, muzzle velocity, muzzy, Mv

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use muzzle in a sentence

My owner was horrified, and he took off the muzzle, and I am sure he felt awful that he put me through such a dreadful ordeal.
My name is Max, and I have a cicada problem|Kevin Ambrose|May 28, 2021|Washington Post
Then, five minutes later, I was outside with no muzzle eating cicadas.
My name is Max, and I have a cicada problem|Kevin Ambrose|May 28, 2021|Washington Post
The mask my mother-in-law puts on the dog statue outside her front door keeps getting ripped from his muzzle.
Grandma hugs beat out piña coladas for our pandemic-era spring break|Petula Dvorak|April 8, 2021|Washington Post
The wild grass beyond his muzzle looked parched enough to burst into flames if you glanced at it wrong.
This Oddball Chef Wants to Serve You Wild Animals|Daniel Duane|April 5, 2021|Outside Online

I was trying to invent a kid-friendly mask that wouldn’t easily slip off little ears and I accidentally created a cotton muzzle.
Some objects will remind us of the pandemic long after it’s over|Theresa Vargas|February 17, 2021|Washington Post
Control Room Sook Shoot Out -- some editorial changes and some VFX muzzle flashes.
Sony Emails Show How the Studio Plans to Censor Kim Jong Un Assassination Comedy ‘The Interview’|William Boot|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Biden is such a straight shooter that pundits say he needs a muzzle.
Roland Martin: America, You Can’t Handle the Truth!|Roland S. Martin|January 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Suddenly, the darkness came alive with muzzle flashes and tracer rounds.
From PTSD to Prison: Why Veterans Become Criminals|Matthew Wolfe|July 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The result of the back-and-forth was guaranteed national publicity for the very ideas the politicians wanted to muzzle.
‘The Gatekeepers,’ Brooklyn College BDS Forum: Week of Israel Debate|Gail Sheehy|February 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He pointed the muzzle at Jones and pulled the trigger, shooting him in the head with a fatally real bullet.
As More Kids Die, Handguns Still a Bigger Threat Than Assault Rifles|Michael Daly|January 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He turned at the sound of my voice with vastly more concern than he'd betrayed under the muzzle of Piegan's gun.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
It was a hippopotamus which had been standing on the river-brink within six yards of the muzzle of his gun.
Hunting the Lions|R.M. Ballantyne
The gunner's seat moved with the carriage, from which he could elevate or depress the muzzle by a lever.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
Then, lifting its head and muzzle to the sky, it opened its long jaws and gave vent to a dismal and prolonged howling.
Three More John Silence Stories|Algernon Blackwood
He laughed, stooped over Black Hood, pressed the muzzle of his gun to the manhunter's forehead.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various

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 noticedto muzzle the press

to put a muzzle on (an animal)

to take in (a sail)

Derived forms of muzzle

muzzler, noun

Word Origin for muzzle

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

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

muzzle

OTHER WORDS FOR muzzle

Origin of muzzle

Words nearby muzzle

Words related to muzzle

How to use muzzle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for muzzle

Derived forms of muzzle

Word Origin for muzzle