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Maw vs Muzzle - What's the difference?

maw | muzzle | Synonyms |

As nouns the difference between maw and muzzle

is that maw is the stomach, especially of an animal while muzzle is the protruding part of many animal's head which includes nose, mouth and jaws; snout.

As a verb muzzle is

to bind or confine an animal's mouth by putting a muzzle, as to prevent it from eating or biting.

maw

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) mawe, from (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • (archaic) the stomach, especially of an animal
  • * 1667 , , Paradise Lost, Book X
    • So Death shall be deceav'd his glut, and with us two / Be forc'd to satisfie his Rav'nous Maw .
  • the upper digestive tract (where food enters the body), especially the mouth and jaws of a ravenous creature.
  • * 1818 , , Endymion
    • To save poor lambkins from the eagle's maw
  • any great, insatiable or perilous opening.
  • Appetite; inclination.
  • * Beaumont and Fletcher
    • Unless you had more maw to do me good.

    Etymology 2

    By shortening of mother

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (dialect, colloquial) Mother.

    • Etymology 3

    See .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A gull.

    • Anagrams

    * ----

    muzzle

    English

    (wikipedia)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The protruding part of many animal's head which includes nose, mouth and jaws; snout
  • The mouth or the end for entrance or discharge of a gun, pistol etc., that the bullet emerges from as opposed to the breech.
  • A device used to prevent animal from biting or eating, which is worn on its snout.
  • (chiefly, Scotland) A piece of the forward end of the plow-beam by which the traces are attached; bridle
  • (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.

    • Derived terms

    * muzzle blast * muzzle brake * muzzle compensator * muzzle energy * muzzleloader * muzzleloading * muzzle velocity

    Verb

    (muzzl)
  • To bind or confine an animal's mouth by putting a muzzle, as to prevent it from eating or biting.
  • * Bible, Deuteronomy xxv. 4
    • Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.
  • (figuratively) To restrain (from speaking, expressing opinion or acting); gag, silence, censor.
  • * 1919 , :
    • Man is brow-beaten, leashed, muzzled , masked, and lashed by boards and councils, by leagues and societies, by church and state.
  • (obsolete) To veil, mask, muffle.
  • (obsolete) To fondle with the closed mouth; to nuzzle.
    • (rfquotek, L'Estrange)
  • To bring the muzzle or mouth near.
  • * (rfdate) Sir R. L'Estrange
    • The bear muzzles and smells to him.

    Derived terms

    * muzzler

    References

    * *