Muzzle /(?)/

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

imp. & p. p. Muzzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Muzzling

1. To bind the mouth of; to fasten the mouth of, so as to prevent biting or eating; hence, figuratively, to bind; to sheathe; to restrain from speech or action; as, the dictator muzzled all the newspapers.

   Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.

2. To fondle with the closed mouth. [Obs.]

1. To bring the mouth or muzzle near.

   The bear muzzles and smells to him.