Hypertext Webster Gateway: "muzzle"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Muzzle
Grain in the East is usually thrashed by the sheaves being
spread out on a floor, over which oxen and cattle are driven to
and fro, till the grain is trodden out. Moses ordained that the
ox was not to be muzzled while thrashing. It was to be allowed
to eat both the grain and the straw (Deut. 25:4). (See {AGRICULTURE}.)
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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. ``My dagger
muzzled.'' --Shak.
Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out
the corn. --Deut. xxv.
4.
2. To fondle with the closed mouth. [Obs.] --L'Estrange.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
2. The mouth of a thing; the end for entrance or discharge;
as, the muzzle of a gun.
3. A fastening or covering (as a band or cage) for the mouth
of an animal, to prevent eating or vicious biting.
With golden muzzles all their mouths were bound
--Dryden.
{Muzzle sight}. (Gun.) See {Dispart}, n., 2.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Muzzle \Muz"zle\, v. i.
To bring the mouth or muzzle near.
The bear muzzles and smels to him. --L'Estrange.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
muzzle
n 1: the open discharging end of a gun [syn: {gun muzzle}, {gunpoint}]
2: forward projecting part of the head of certain animals;
includes the jaws and nose
3: restraint put into a person's mouth to prevent speaking or
shouting [syn: {gag}]
v 1: fit with a muzzle, as of a dog to prevent it from biting
2: prevent from speaking [syn: {gag}]
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