muzzle Definition

muzzle
noun

1. The projecting jaws and nose of an animal, eg a dog.
2. An arrangement of straps fitted round an animal's jaws to prevent it biting.
3. The open end of a gun barrel.

verb muzzled, muzzling

1. To put a muzzle on (eg a dog).
2. To prevent someone from speaking or being heard; to silence or gag them.

Thesaurus: suppress, restrain, repress, mute, stifle, silence, still, hush, bind, gag, muffle, deaden; Antonym: give free rein to.

Etymology: 15c: from French musel, from Latin musellum, from musum a snout.