nuzzle
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nuzzle¹
- /ˈnʌzl̩/ UK
- /ˈnʌz(ə)l/ US
- [ˈnʌzɫ̩] US
Rhymes with -ʌzəl
Where it comes from
The verb is derived from Middle English noselen (“to bend down”); further etymology uncertain, possibly:
* a back-formation from noseling, noselyng (“on the back, supine; with the face downward, prone”, adverb), from nose (“nose”) (from Old English nosu, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *néh₂s (“nose”)) + -ling, -lyng (suffix forming adverbs denoting direction, manner, or position); or
* from nose (see above) + -el, -elen (diminutive or frequentative suffix) (in which case the English word is, by surface analysis, nose + -le (frequentative suffix)).
Etymology 1, verb sense 2.3 (“to settle or lie comfortably and snugly”) is possibly influenced by nestle or nursle (frequentative of nurse).
The noun is derived from the verb.
Compare nozzle.
verb nuzzles · nuzzling · nuzzled · nuzzle
- To push or thrust (the nose or snout, face or muzzle, or head, or an object) against or into something. [T]he Dogge nuſling his noſe vnder the necke of the Deare, the Wolfe glad to let the Lambe lye vpon hym to kéepe him warme, the Lyon ſuffering the Aſſe to caſt hys legge ouer him: preferring one honeſt vnmannerly friende, before a number of croutching picke-thankes.
- To rub or touch (someone or something) with the nose, face, etc., or an object. The horse nuzzled its foal’s head gently to wake him up.
- Chiefly of an animal: to dig (something, especially food) out of the ground using the nose or snout; to root.
- Often followed by in or into: to press or push the nose or snout, mouth, face, etc., against or into someone or something; to touch someone or something with the nose or snout, etc. The bird nuzzled up to the wires of the cage.
- Chiefly of an animal: to push the nose or snout into the ground to dig for something, especially food; to root, to rootle. The male pigges following the damme, doe commonly ſcatter further abroade than the females doe, and will nouzle and turne vp the ground tenne or twelue paces further off from their dãmes than yͤ females do, […]
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Followed by down: to settle or lie comfortably and snugly in a bed, nest, etc.; to nestle.
Intemperance therefore according to Cicero, is ſuch a kind of obedience vnto luſts, meerely repugnant to the right mind, and vnto all preſcription of reaſon, that the priuate deſires can neither be gouerned nor contained in any moderation; and thereof are tvvo parts: one vvhich exceſſiuely nuzzleth
Similar: snuzzle
- Chiefly followed by up or with: to press affectionately against someone or something; to nestle, to snuggle. [W]ill your reſt / ſeme ſvveeter, if I nuzzle on your breſt?
- To come into close contact with someone or something. It was nearly all downhill into Shrewsbury, with two intermediate stops, and a grand sequence of long curves around which Soult nuzzled her way with a quick side-to-side action.
- To feel or probe with the fingers. The Professor […] [f]eels thorax and arm, and nuzzles round among muscles as those horrid old women poke their fingers into the salt-meat on the provision-stalls at the Quincy Market.
noun nuzzles
- An act of nuzzling (all verb senses). Gosh, aren't we just the cutest? You learning how to draw in gloves, while I write letters of gratitude to women of greatness. Each of use bettering our individual selves while still staying close enough for the occasional nuzzle.
nuzzle²
- /ˈnʌzl̩/ UK
- /ˈnʌz(ə)l/ US
- [ˈnʌzɫ̩] US
Rhymes with -ʌzəl
Where it comes from
Origin uncertain; appears to have a separate origin from nuzzle (etymology 1) due to the different meanings, but probably influenced by that word.
verb nuzzles · nuzzling · nuzzled
- Often followed by up' or with: to nurture or train (oneself or someone) to act a certain way, have certain beliefs, etc. Yf any man therfore vſe the ſcripture to drawe the [thee] from Chriſte and to noſell the [thee] in any thinge ſave in Chriſte / the ſame is a falſe prophete.
- To train (a dog or hawk) to attack prey.
- Chiefly followed by up: to bring up (someone); to foster, to rear; also, to educate (someone); to train. This onely they beſought at their hands, and admoniſhed them of, by vvay of a proviſo, they they vvould take order for the ſafetie and ſecuritie of their perſons: and not by ſheading their bloud, to fleſh the Commons, and to nuzzle them up, and acquaint them vvith exerciſing crueltie upon the Nobles
- To care for (someone) affectionately; to hold dear (someone); to cherish, to nurse; also, to provide (someone or something) a comfortable and snug place to settle or lie (compare etymology 1, verb etymology 1, verb sense 2.3). For if Birhena could haue held him backe, / From Venus Court where he now nouſled was, / His luſtie limbes had neuer found the lacke / Of manly ſhape: […]
Translations
Every language
verb to rub or touch (someone or something) with the nose, face, etc., or an object
| Español | frotar la nariz |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 用鼻子愛撫 /用鼻子爱抚 yòng bízi àifǔ, 用鼻子掘 yòng bízi jué |
| Français | fourrer son nez |
| Deutsch | hätscheln, schnüffeln, wühlen, liebkosen, sich anschmiegen |
| Italiano | annusare, strofinare col naso |
| Русский | ты́каться но́сом týkatʹsja nósom, ню́хать njúxatʹ, тере́ться но́сом о terétʹsja nósom o |
Talk about this word "nuzzle." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/nuzzle. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. nuzzle. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/nuzzle "nuzzle." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/nuzzle.Cite this
@misc{nuzzle_2026,
title = {nuzzle},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/nuzzle},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
