Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Muzzle
Muz′zle
,Noun.
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 gun3.
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
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Muzzled
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Muzzling
.] [F.
museler
.] 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.” as, the dictator
. muzzled
all the newspapersShak.
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
,Verb.
I.
To bring the mouth or muzzle near.
The bear
muzzles
and smells to him. L'Estrange.
Webster 1828 Edition
Muzzle
MUZ'ZLE
, n.1.
The mouth of a thing; the extreme or end for entrance or discharge; applied chiefly to the end of a tube, as the open end of a common fusee or pistol,or of a bellows.2.
A fastening for the mouth which hinders from biting. With golden muzzles all their mouths were bound.
MUZ'ZLE
,Verb.
T.
Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Deut.25.
1.
To fondle with the mouth close. [Low.]2.
To restrain from hurt. My dagger muzzled--
MUZ'ZLE
,Verb.
I.
The bear muzzles and smells to him.
Definition 2024
muzzle
muzzle
English
A cow's muzzle (protruding part of animal's head)
A dog wearing a muzzle (sense 3) over its muzzle (sense 1)
Noun
muzzle (plural muzzles)
- The protruding part of many animal's head which includes nose, mouth and jaws; snout
- 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.
Derived terms
terms derived from muzzle (noun)
Translations
part of animal's head
|
|
open end of a gun
device to stop an animal from biting
|
|
Verb
muzzle (third-person singular simple present muzzles, present participle muzzling, simple 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.
- Bible, Deuteronomy xxv. 4
- Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.
- Bible, Deuteronomy xxv. 4
- (transitive, figuratively) To restrain (from speaking, expressing opinion or acting); gag, silence, censor.
- 1919, Boris Sidis, The Source and Aim of Human Progress:
- Man is brow-beaten, leashed, muzzled, masked, and lashed by boards and councils, by leagues and societies, by church and state.
- 1919, Boris Sidis, The Source and Aim of Human Progress:
- (transitive, obsolete) To veil, mask, muffle.
- (transitive, obsolete) To fondle with the closed mouth; to nuzzle.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of L'Estrange to this entry?)
- (intransitive) To bring the muzzle or mouth near.
- (Can we date this quote?) Sir R. L'Estrange
- The bear muzzles and smells to him.
- (Can we date this quote?) Sir R. L'Estrange
Derived terms
Translations
to apply a muzzle
|
to restrain from speaking or acting
|
References
- muzzle in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- “muzzle”, in OED Online, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.