חָסַם I (b. h.; cmp. preced. wds., [to withhold, prevent, v. Ez. XXXIX, 11,] 1) to muzzle, esp. to prevent the animal from eating while at work (with ref. to Deut. XXV, 4). B. Mets. 90ᵃ עובר משום בל תַּחְסוֹם he trespasses the law forbidding to muzzle (if he prevents the animal from eating). Ib. חֲסוֹם פרתי muzzle my cow. Ib.ᵇ, a. e. חֲסָמָהּ בקול if he prevents her from eating by shouting at her; a. fr.—Trnsf. (an adaptation of Deut. l. c. which is followed by the law concerning leviratical marriage) to tie a woman to a man (Yabam) with whom she cannot live; [Rashi: to shut a woman’s mouth, ignore her objections]. Yeb. 4ᵃ שאין חוֹסְמִין אותה that we do not coërce her (to be the wife of a leper). —2) to form the rim of basket work or of a leather bag. Kel. XVI, 2; 3; 4.
Nif. - נֶחְסַם to be muzzled, to be prevented from eating while at work. B. Mets. 89ᵃ לאקושי חוֹסֵם לנֶחְסָם וכ׳ to draw a parallel between the muzzler (human laborer) and the muzzled (laboring brute).
Hithpa. - הִתְחַסֵּם,
Nithpa. - נִתְחַסֵּם to be bent into a rim. Kel. XX, 2.