musk

Meaning

Noun

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

Verb

To perfume with musk.

Synonyms

civet

calf

masque

roedeer

river deer

Translations

muschio

almizcle

musc

Moschus

muskus

almíscar

misk

Bisam

almesc

misk kokusu

المسك

misk otu

مسك

مَشْمُوم

Pronounced as (IPA)

/mʌsk/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: muske

Cognate with Persian: مشک

In summary

From Middle English muske, borrowed from Old French musc, from Late Latin muscus, from Ancient Greek μόσχος (móskhos), from Middle Persian [script needed] (mwšk' /⁠muʃk⁠/) 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.