/muz"euhl/ , n. , v. , muzzled, muzzling .
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.
[ 1350-1400; ME musel musellum, dim. of musum snout ]
Syn. 5. silence, quiet, still, supress.