Muzzle
/ˈmʌz.əl/noun
The projecting part of an animal's face, especially the nose and mouth, or a device that prevents an animal or gun from being used.
Did you know?English muzzle likely passed through French and may be related to a root meaning “mouth,” which is why the word sits so close to the body’s most symbolic gate: the place where breath, speech, and spellwork begin.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mu-
“An imitative root connected with the mouth or humming sound.”
Old French
OF
musel
“A muzzle or snout-cover for an animal.”
Middle English
English
musel
“A covering for an animal's mouth or snout.”
Late Middle English
English
mussel
“A variant spelling and pronunciation of the same word.”
Modern English
English
muzzle
“A device or covering that restrains an animal's mouth, or the projecting mouth area itself.”