MUZZLING

Verb

muzzling

present participle of muzzle

Noun

muzzling (plural muzzlings)

The act of placing a muzzle on an animal.

Source: Wiktionary

MUZZLE

Muz"zle, n. Etym: [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.

Muz"zle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Muzzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Muzzling.] Etym: [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.

Muz"zle, v. i.

Definition: To bring the mouth or muzzle near. The bear muzzles and smels to him. L'Estrange.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition