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Nuzzle vs Muzzle - What's the difference?

nuzzle | muzzle |

As verbs the difference between nuzzle and muzzle

is that nuzzle is of animals, lovers, etc To touch someone or something with the nose while muzzle is to bind or confine an animal's mouth by putting a muzzle, as to prevent it from eating or biting.

As a noun muzzle is

the protruding part of many animal's head which includes nose, mouth and jaws; snout.

nuzzle

English

Verb

  • To touch someone or something with the nose.
    • The horse nuzzled its foal's head gently to wake him up.
    The bird nuzzled up to the wires of the cage.
    She nuzzled her boyfriend in the cinema.
  • (obsolete) To nurse; to foster; to bring up.
  • * Milton
    • The people had been nuzzled in idolatry.
  • (obsolete) To nestle; to house, as in a nest.

    • Related terms

    * (l)

    References

    * Folk-etymology: a dictionary of verbal corruptions or words perverted in form or meaning, by false derivation or mistaken analogy, Abram Smythe Palmer, G. Bell and Sons, 1882, p. 261

    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

    * *