Nuzzle
/ˈnʌz.əl/noun
To rub or press gently with the nose or face, often as an affectionate gesture.
Did you know?Nuzzle is a relatively late English word, first recorded in the 17th century, and is believed to be built from nose-related forms, showing how English often turns body language into vocabulary.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*nes-
“nose”
Old English
OE
nosu
“nose”
Middle English
ME
noselen / nusselen
“to rub or handle with the nose; to poke about”
17th Century
English
nuzzle
“to work or move with the nose; to fondle or nestle”
Modern English
English
nuzzle
“to rub or press gently with the nose or face, especially affectionately”