muzzle
pronunciation
How to pronounce muzzle in British English:
UK [ˈmʌzl]
How to pronounce muzzle in American English:
US [ˈmʌzəl]
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- Noun:
- the open circular discharging end of a gun
- forward projecting part of the head of certain animals; includes the jaws and nose
- 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
- restraint put into a person's mouth to prevent speaking or shouting
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- Verb:
- fit with a muzzle
- prevent from speaking out
- tie a gag around someone's mouth in order to silence them
Word Origin
- muzzle
- muzzle: see amuse
- 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-Roman *musa "snout" (source also of 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.
- muzzle (v.)
- "to put a muzzle on," early 15c., from muzzle (n.). Figurative use from 1610s. Related: Muzzled; muzzling.
Example
- 1. The rifle 's muzzle velocity is 210 metres a second , which is the starting point for the calculation .
- 2. Teachers won 't be able to model those skills if our schools and courts continue to muzzle them .
- 3. Frustrated with this blatant show of disobedience , the man grabbed his loaded shotgun by the muzzle and began wielding it like a club .
- 4. Dante arete stared down the muzzle of special agent hensley 's weapon , eyes wide , lips beaded with sweat .
- 5. " Harris reportedly went to retrieve the bird , placed his gun on the ground and crossed the fence near the muzzle end , " the press release said .