King James Bible Dictionary

Grain in the East is usually thrashed by the sheaves being spread out on a floor, over which oxen and cattle are driven to and fro, till the grain is trodden out. Moses ordained that the ox was not to be muzzled while thrashing. It was to be allowed to eat both the grain and the straw (Deuteronomy 25:4). (See AGRICULTURE.)

MUZ'ZLE, noun

1. The mouth of a thing; the extreme or end for entrance or discharge; applied chiefly to the end of a tube, as the open end of a common fusee or pistol, or of a bellows.

2. A fastening for the mouth which hinders from biting.

With golden muzzles all their mouths were bound.

MUZ'ZLE, verb transitive To bind the mouth; to fasten the mouth to prevent biting or eating.

Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Deuteronomy 25:4.

1. To fondle with the mouth close. [Low.]

2. To restrain from hurt.

My dagger muzzled--

MUZ'ZLE, verb intransitive To bring the mouth near.

The bear muzzles and smells to him.

MUZZLE-RING, noun The metalline ring or circle that surrounds the mouth of a cannon or other piece.