muzzle

Noun

• restraint put into a person's mouth to prevent speaking or shouting

• a leather or wire restraint that fits over an animal's snout (especially a dog's nose and jaws) and prevents it from eating or biting

• forward projecting part of the head of certain animals; includes the jaws and nose

• the open circular discharging end of a gun

Verb

• tie a gag around someone's mouth in order to silence them
  • The burglars gagged the home owner and tied him to a chair
    

• prevent from speaking out
  • The press was gagged
    

• fit with a muzzle
  • muzzle the dog to prevent it from biting strangers
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  gag , gun muzzle