1. [n]  forward projecting part of the head of certain animals; includes the jaws and nose
2. [n]  restraint put into a person's mouth to prevent speaking or shouting
3. [n]  the open circular discharging end of a gun
4. [v]  prevent from speaking
5. [v]  fit with a muzzle, as of a dog to prevent it from biting

1. \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.
   
   

2. \Muz"zle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Muzzled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Muzzling}.] [F. museler.]
   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. ``My dagger
      muzzled.'' --Shak.
   
            Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out
            the corn.                             --Deut. xxv.
                                                  4.
   
   2. To fondle with the closed mouth. [Obs.] --L'Estrange.
   
   

3. \Muz"zle\, v. i.
   To bring the mouth or muzzle near.
   
         The bear muzzles and smels to him.       --L'Estrange.
   
   

Grain in the East is usually thrashed by the sheaves being spread out on a floor, over which oxen and cattle are driven to and fro, till the grain is trodden out. Moses ordained that the ox was not to be muzzled while thrashing. It was to be allowed to eat both the grain and the straw (Deut. 25:4). (See AGRICULTURE.)