musk

Meaning

Noun

1. A greasy secretion with a powerful odour, produced in a glandular sac of the male musk deer and used in the manufacture of perfumes.
2. A similar secretion produced by the otter and the civet.
3. A synthetic organic compound used as a substitute for the above.
4. The odour of musk.
5. A musk deer (genus Moschus).
6. A muskflower (Erythranthe moschata).
7. A plant of the genus Erodium (Erodium moschatum); the musky heronsbill.
8. A plant of the genus Muscari; grape hyacinth.
9. (colloquial,slang) The scent of human genitalia when aroused or unwashed.

Verb

To perfume with musk.

Synonyms

civet

calf

masque

roedeer

river deer

Pronounced as (IPA)

/mʌsk/

Etymology

From Middle English muske, borrowed from Old French musc, from Late Latin muscus, from Ancient Greek μόσχος (móskhos), from Middle Persian [script needed] (mwšk' /⁠mušk⁠/) whence Persian مشک (mošk). Ultimately from Sanskrit मुष्क (muṣka, “testicle”), the shape of the gland of animals secreting the substance being compared to human testicles, a diminutive of मूष् (mūṣ, “mouse”), the shape of human testicles being compared to mice, from Proto-Indo-European *muh₂s (“mouse”). Cognate with mouse.