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).
Phrases and idioms:
muzzle-loader a gun that is loaded through the muzzle. muzzle velocity the velocity with which a projectile leaves the muzzle of a gun.
Derivatives:
muzzler n.
Etymology: ME f. OF musel ult. f. med.L musum: cf. MUSE(2)