muzzle
n. countablen. a cover that you put over an animal's mouth so it cannot bite or bark. It can also mean the nose and mouth area of an animal like a dog or horse.
n. a guard or strap fitted over an animal's snout to prevent biting or eating; also refers to the projecting part of an animal's face including the nose and jaws.
The dog had to wear a muzzle at the park.
The vet recommended a soft muzzle to keep the nervous dog from nipping during the examination.
While the greyhound's slender muzzle is a defining characteristic of the breed, it also makes finding a properly fitting safety guard more difficult than for broader-faced dogs.
From earlier muzle, musle, mousle, mussel, mozell, from Middle English mosel, from Old French musel, museau, muzeau (modern French museau), from Late Latin mūsus (“snout”), probably expressive of the shape of protruded lips and/or influenced by Latin mūgīre (“to moo, bellow”). Doublet of museau. Displaced native Middle English kevel from Old English cæfl (“gag, bit, muzzle”), see English cavel.
Commonly used in the context of animal safety or veterinary care; can also be used as a verb meaning to silence someone.