nuzzle

Etymology

From Middle English noselyng, as nose + -lyng (frequentative suffix) (modern English nose + -le (“(frequentative)”)). Modern affectionate, intimate sense 1590s, possibly influenced by nestle or nursle (frequentative of nurse).

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive) (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.
   Within a couple of hours, pictures of General B nuzzling Kitty Jackson were being posted and traded on the Web. 2010, Jennifer Egan, “Selling the General”, in A Visit from the Goon Squad
2. (obsolete) To nurse; to foster; to bring up.
3. (obsolete) To nestle; to house, as in a nest.
4. (obsolete) To go along with the nose to the ground, like a pig.