nuzzle

English

Etymology

Early 15th century Middle English noselyng, as nose + -lyng (“(frequentive)”) (modern English nose +‎ -le (“(frequentive)”)). Modern affectionate, intimate sense 1590s, possibly influenced by nestle or nursle (frequentive of nurse).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ʌzəl

Verb

nuzzle (third-person singular simple present nuzzles, present participle nuzzling, simple past and past participle nuzzled)

1. (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.

Related terms

• nursle

Translations

touch with the nose

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 用鼻愛撫 (cmn), 用鼻爱抚 (cmn) (yòng bí àifǔ) (tenderly), 用鼻掘 (cmn) (yòng bí jué)

• Dutch: snuffelen (nl)
• Finnish: koskettaa (fi) (nenällä/turvalla/kuonolla/nokalla)

• French: fourrer son nez (fr)
• German: hätscheln (de), schnüffeln (de), wühlen (de), liebkosen (de), sich anschmiegen (de)
• Russian: тыкаться носом (týkatʹsja nósom)

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