Dictionary entry

Muzzle

Webster's Dictionary 1913

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.