muzzle

UK: /ˈmʌz^əl/ US: /ˈmʌzəl/ ,(muz′əl)

Inflections of 'muzzle' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

muzzles

v 3rd person singular

muzzling

v pres p

muzzled

v past

muzzled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

muz•zle /ˈmʌzəl/   n., v., -zled, -zling. 
n. [countable]

1. Zoology the part of the head of an animal that comprises the jaws, mouth, and nose.
2. the mouth of the barrel of a gun, etc.
3. a device, usually an arrangement of straps or wires, placed over an animal's mouth to prevent the animal from biting, etc.

v. [~ + object]

4. to put a muzzle on (an animal or its mouth).
5. to hold back from or prevent speech or the expression of opinion:
   to muzzle the press by violence.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

muz•zle  (muz′əl), n., v., -zled, -zling. 
n. 

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. See diag. under dog. 
3. a device, usually an arrangement of straps or wires, placed over an animal's mouth to prevent the animal from biting, eating, etc.

v.t. 

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. [Naut.] 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.

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

Synonyms

• 5. silence, quiet, still, supress.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

muzzle / ˈmʌz^əl/ 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)

1. to prevent from being heard or noticed
2. to put a muzzle on (an animal)

Etymology: 15th Century mosel, from Old French musel, diminutive of muse snout, from Medieval Latin mūsus, of unknown origin

ˈmuzzler noun