The Collaborative International Dictionary
Muzzle \Muz"zle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Muzzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Muzzling.] [F. museler.]
-
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; as, the dictator muzzled all the newspapers. ``My dagger muzzled.''
--Shak.Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.
--Deut. xxv. 4. To fondle with the closed mouth. [Obs.]
--L'Estrange.
Wiktionary
n. The act of placing a muzzle on an animal. vb. (present participle of muzzle English)
Usage examples of "muzzling".
First you've gotta prove to me that the government's muzzling your Indian.
As Lucas confided to us, Blair’s circle made the initial approach to the Murdoch organization with the offer to trim the government’s own union recognition and competition bills—in return for Murdoch’s muzzling his papers.
I guess we could always wind a long strip of gauze bandage around his snout, muzzle him, which is sort of cruel and would probably hurt his feelings, since muzzling him would mean we don't emtirely trust him, but it wouldn't hurt him physically, of course and I'm sure we could make it up to him later with a juicy steak or—"
As they lifted into the muzzling dark again, Ric's mind searched for answers.