ˈmʌzl 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). ømuzzle-loader a
gun that is
loaded through the muzzle. muzzle
velocity the velocity
with which a
projectile leaves the muzzle of a gun. øømuzzler n. [ME f. OF musel ult. f. med.L musum:
cf. MUSE(2)]