muzzle

[muhz-uh l] /ˈmʌz əl/
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.
3.
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), muzzled, muzzling.
4.
to put a muzzle on (an animal or its mouth) so as to prevent biting, eating, etc.
5.
to restrain from speech, the expression of opinion, etc.:
The censors muzzled the press.
6.
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
1350-1400; Middle English musel < Middle French < Medieval Latin mūsellum, diminutive of mūsum snout < ?
Synonyms
5. silence, quiet, still, supress.
Examples from the web for muzzle
  • The editors allege that the administration is trying to muzzle the sophomoric and often vulgar publication.
  • Labour thought it wiser to muzzle their official spokesmen.
  • Some people say to put your hand over the top of the dog's muzzle and pinch the lips against the teeth til they release.
  • Hold the dogs muzzle closed with one hand, and hold the dogs neck with the other.
  • Expect calls to muzzle the press, as the public feels the ground shifting again.
  • Their muzzle is white, and they don an erect and dark mane that lines their large head and neck.
  • They have a long muzzle and sharp fangs designed to inflict deadly injury.
  • Let's talk about why that is so rather than muzzle those who dare to broach reality.
  • Figuring out the muzzle shape of each sloth was a multi-step process.
  • During a blizzard the bear will cover his muzzle with his paws and let the snow drift around him.
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
3.
the front end of a gun barrel
verb (transitive)
4.
to prevent from being heard or noticed: to muzzle the press
5.
to put a muzzle on (an animal)
6.
to take in (a sail)
Derived Forms
muzzler, noun
Word Origin
C15 mosel, from Old French musel, diminutive of muse snout, from Medieval Latin mūsus, of unknown origin
Word Origin and History for muzzle
n.

late 14c., "device put over an animal's mouth to stop it from biting, eating, or rooting," from Old French musel "muzzle," also "snout, nose" (12c., Modern French museau), from muse "muzzle," from Gallo-Romance *musa "snout" (cf. Provençal mus, Old Spanish mus, Italian muso), of unknown origin, possibly related to Latin morsus "bite" (but OED finds "serious difficulties" with this). Meaning "projecting part of the head of an animal" is from early 15c. in English; sense of "open end of a firearm" first recorded 1560s.

v.

"to put a muzzle on," early 15c., from muzzle (n.). Figurative use from 1610s. Related: Muzzled; muzzling.

muzzle in the Bible

Grain in the East is usually thrashed by the sheaves being spread out on a floor, over which oxen and cattle are driven to and fro, till the grain is trodden out. Moses ordained that the ox was not to be muzzled while thrashing. It was to be allowed to eat both the grain and the straw (Deut. 25:4). (See AGRICULTURE.)