英和和英

語源

From earlier muzle, musle, mousle, mussel, mozell, from Middle English mosel, from Old French musel, museau, muzeau (modern French museau), from latin mūsellum, diminutive form of mūsum (“snout”).

発音

• 韻: -ʌzəl

名詞

muzzle (複数形 muzzles)

1. the protruding part of many animal's head which includes nose, mouth and jaws; snout
2. the mouth or the end for entrance or discharge of a gun, pistol etc., that the bullet emerges from as opposed to the breech
3. a device used to prevent animal from biting or eating, which is worn on its head
4. (chiefly Scottish) a piece of the forward end of the plow-beam by which the traces are attached; bridle
5. (obsolete, historical) an openwork covering for the nose, used for the defense of the horse, and forming part of the bards in the 15th and 16th centuries

派生語

動詞

to muzzle (三人称単数 現在形 muzzles, 現在分詞 muzzling, 過去形および過去分詞形 muzzled)

1. (transitive) to bind or confine animal's mouth by putting a muzzle, as to prevent it from eating or biting
2. (transitive, figuratively) to restrain (from speaking, expressing opinion または acting); gag, silence
   • 1919, Boris Sidis, The Source and Aim of Human Progress:

     Man is brow-beaten, leashed, muzzled, masked, and lashed by boards and councils, by leagues and societies, by church and state.

3. (transitive, obsolete) to veil, mask, muffle
4. (transitive, obsolete) to fondle with the closed mouth; to nuzzle
5. (intransitive) to bring the muzzle or mouth near

   The bear muzzles and smells to him. (Sir. R. L'Estrange)

参照

• muzzle in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• “muzzle” in OED Online, Oxford University Press, 1989.