[syn: gag, muzzle]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Muzzle \Muz"zle\, v. 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; as, the
dictator muzzled all the newspapers. "My dagger muzzled."
--Shak.
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Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out
the corn. --Deut. xxv.
4.
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2. To fondle with the closed mouth. [Obs.] --L'Estrange.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Muzzle \Muz"zle\, v. i.
To bring the mouth or muzzle near.
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The bear muzzles and smells to him. --L'Estrange.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Muzzle \Muz"zle\, n. [OE. mosel, OF. musel, F. museau muzzle or
snout, LL. musellus, fr. musus, morsus. See Muse, v. i.,
and cf. Morsel.]
1. The projecting mouth and nose of a quadruped, as of a
horse; a snout.
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2. The mouth of a thing; the end for entrance or discharge;
as, the muzzle of a gun.
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3. A fastening or covering (as a band or cage) for the mouth
of an animal, to prevent eating or vicious biting.
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With golden muzzles all their mouths were bound
--Dryden.
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Muzzle sight. (Gun.) See Dispart, n., 2.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
muzzle
n 1: the open circular discharging end of a gun [syn: gun
muzzle, muzzle]
2: forward projecting part of the head of certain animals;
includes the jaws and nose
3: a leather or wire restraint that fits over an animal's snout
(especially a dog's nose and jaws) and prevents it from
eating or biting
4: restraint put into a person's mouth to prevent speaking or
shouting [syn: gag, muzzle]
v 1: fit with a muzzle; "muzzle the dog to prevent it from
biting strangers" [ant: unmuzzle]
2: prevent from speaking out; "The press was gagged" [syn:
gag, muzzle]
3: tie a gag around someone's mouth in order to silence them;
"The burglars gagged the home owner and tied him to a chair"
[syn: gag, muzzle]