nuzzle

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To push or thrust (the nose or snout, face or muzzle, or head, or an object) against or into something.
2. (transitive) To rub or touch (someone or something) with the nose, face, etc., or an object.
3. (transitive) Chiefly of an animal: to dig (something, especially food) out of the ground using the nose or snout; to root.
4. (intransitive) 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.
5. (intransitive) Chiefly of an animal: to push the nose or snout into the ground to dig for something, especially food; to root, to rootle.
6. (intransitive) Followed by down: to settle or lie comfortably and snugly in a bed, nest, etc.; to nestle.
7. (intransitive) Chiefly followed by up or with: to press affectionately against someone or something; to nestle, to snuggle.
8. (figuratively, intransitive) To come into close contact with someone or something.
9. (intransitive, obsolete, rare) To feel or probe with the fingers.

Noun

An act of nuzzling (all verb senses).

Synonyms

snuggle

cuddle

nestle

nest

sniff

embrace

nestle up

nose

👃

press oneself

huddle

draw close

kiss

😗

pet

poke

rake up

surround

stroke

nestle down

nag

cherish

chisel

dig

embosom

fondle

grub

hold

hug

inhale

caress

nudge

Translations

hocicar

liebkosen

andare annusando

koesteren

hozar

snuffelen

wühlen

renifler

hätscheln

strofinare il naso

schnüffeln

cajoler

câliner

caresser

μαζεύομαι πλησίο

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈnʌzl̩/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: noselen

Inherited from Old English: nosu

In summary

PIE word
*néh₂s
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)).
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]].