n. & v.
n. 1 the projecting part of an animal's face, including the nose and mouth. 2 a guard, usu. made of straps or wire, fitted over an animal's nose and mouth to stop it biting or feeding. 3 the open end of a firearm.
v.tr. 1 put a muzzle on (an animal etc.). 2 impose silence upon. 3 Naut. take in (a sail). muzzle-loader a gun that is loaded through the muzzle. muzzle velocity the velocity with which a projectile leaves the muzzle of a gun. muzzler n.
[ ME f. OF musel ult. f. med.L musum: cf. MUSE(2) ]