muzzle
Americannoun
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the mouth, or end for discharge, of the barrel of a gun, pistol, etc.
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the projecting part of the head of an animal, including jaws, mouth, and nose.
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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)
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to put a muzzle on (an animal or its mouth) so as to prevent biting, eating, etc.
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to restrain from speech, the expression of opinion, etc..
The censors muzzled the press.
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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.
noun
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the projecting part of the face, usually the jaws and nose, of animals such as the dog and horse
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a guard or strap fitted over an animal's nose and jaws to prevent it biting or eating
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the front end of a gun barrel
verb
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to prevent from being heard or noticed
to muzzle the press
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to put a muzzle on (an animal)
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to take in (a sail)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have muzzledperfect
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has muzzledperfect 3rd person singular
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has been muzzlingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been muzzlingperfect progressive
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are muzzlingprogressive
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is muzzlingprogressive 3rd person singular
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muzzlessingular 3rd person
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am muzzlingprogressive 1st person singular
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muzzlingparticiple
Past
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had muzzledperfect
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muzzledparticiple
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muzzledsimple
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were muzzlingprogressive plural
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was muzzlingprogressive singular
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had been muzzlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of muzzle
1350–1400; Middle English musel < Middle French < Medieval Latin mūsellum, diminutive of mūsum snout < ?
Explanation
A muzzle is a guard that covers an animal's mouth to keep it from biting. If your dog is aggressive, you might have to put a muzzle on her when you take her to the dog park. Muzzle comes from the Latin morsus meaning "bite." A muzzle is the nose and mouth of an animal like a cat or dog. It's also the name for a guard made of straps or wire that's worn over this part of an animal's face to keep it from biting. It's the mouth of a gun, too. If you muzzle someone, you gag him to prevent him from speaking.
Vocabulary lists containing muzzle
Of Mice and Men
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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
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"The Highwayman"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Deborah famously tried to muzzle Ava a few times, only to back off when she realized that by hurting her protégé, she was wounding herself.
From Salon • May 29, 2026
There is not an apparent muzzle flash from the shotgun during the short clip, which does not show the area where Allen was detained.
From Barron's • May 3, 2026
Despite suffering from "numerous" bald patches, a torn muzzle, and repairs to both pads on his paws and feet, the Edwardian bear attracted a lot of interest ahead of the sale.
From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026
Because no shell casings or muzzle flash was seen in surveillance video, police suspect the shooter used an airsoft handgun.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2025
Dodger nudged her with his muzzle, and Akira shook herself awake.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
