muzzle

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 the nose and mouth of an animal, especially a dog or a horse compareSNOUT 2 a device made of leather or plastic that you put over the nose and mouth of an animal, especially a dog, to prevent it from biting people 3 the open end of a gun, where the bullets come out verb [VN] 1 [usuallypassive] to put a muzzle over a dog's head to prevent it from biting people: Dogs must be kept muzzled. 2 to prevent sb from expressing their opinions in public as they want to SYNGAG: They accused the government of muzzling the press.