Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Nuzzle
Nuz′zle
(nŭz′z’l)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Nuzzled
(nŭz′z’ld)
;p. pr. & vb. n.
Nuzzling
(nŭz′zlĭng)
.] [See
Noursle
.] 1.
To noursle or nurse; to foster; to bring up.
[Obs.]
The people had been
nuzzled
in idolatry. Milton.
1.
To work with the nose, like a swine in the mud.
And
Sheathed, unaware, the tusk in his soft groin.
nuzzling
in his flank, the loving swineSheathed, unaware, the tusk in his soft groin.
Shakespeare
He charged through an army of lawyers, sometimes . . .
nuzzling
like an eel in the mud. Arbuthnot.
2.
To go with head poised like a swine, with nose down.
Sir Roger shook his ears, and
nuzzled
along. Arbuthnot.
4.
To loiter; to idle.
[Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
Webster 1828 Edition
Nuzzle
NUZ'ZLE
, v.t.[qu. from noursle.] To nurse; to foster. [Vulgar.]Definition 2024
nuzzle
nuzzle
English
Verb
nuzzle (third-person singular simple present nuzzles, present participle nuzzling, simple past and past participle nuzzled)
- (of animals, lovers, etc) To touch someone or something with the nose.
- The horse nuzzled its foal's head gently to wake him up.
- The bird nuzzled up to the wires of the cage.
- She nuzzled her boyfriend in the cinema.
- (obsolete) To nurse; to foster; to bring up.
- Milton
- The people had been nuzzled in idolatry.
- Milton
- (obsolete) To nestle; to house, as in a nest.
Related terms
Translations
touch with the nose
References
- Folk-etymology: a dictionary of verbal corruptions or words perverted in form or meaning, by false derivation or mistaken analogy, Abram Smythe Palmer, G. Bell and Sons, 1882, p. 261