Muzzle Meaning
/ˈmʌzəl/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounThe protruding part of an animal's head which includes the nose, mouth and jaws.
nounA person's mouth.
Sentence Examples
Why doesn't your dog wear a muzzle?
I need to buy a muzzle for my dog.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The vet had to ____ the aggressive dog to examine its teeth.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The owner was required to put a ____ on his dog whenever they went for a walk in the crowded park to ensure the safety of other visitors.
Word Origin & History
From earlier muzle, musle, mousle, mussel, mozell, from Middle English mosel, from Old French musel, museau, muzeau (modern French museau), from Late Latin mūsus (“snout”), probably expressive of the shape of protruded lips and/or influenced by Latin mūgīre (“to moo, bellow”). Doublet of museau. Displaced native Middle English kevel from Old English cæfl (“gag, bit, muzzle”), see English cavel.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes, / The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes, […]"
— 1915 June, T[homas] S[tearns] Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, in Prufrock and Other Observations, London: The Egoist […], published 1917, →OCLC, page 10:
"Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Deuteronomy 25:4:
"Man is brow-beaten, leashed, muzzled, masked, and lashed by boards and councils, by leagues and societies, by church and state."
— 1919, Boris Sidis, The Source and Aim of Human Progress:
"Venus her self would sit Muzzling and Gazing them in the Eyes"
— 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:
"And now, while they are climbing the pole in another part of the field, and muzzling in a flour-tub in another, the old farmer […] announces to all whom it may concern that a half-sovereign in money will be forthcoming to the old gamester who breaks most heads; […]"
— 1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's School Days:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The vet had to ____ the aggressive dog to examine its teeth.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The owner was required to put a ____ on his dog whenever they went for a walk in the crowded park to ensure the safety of other visitors.