almique

[ al-muh-kee ]

noun

1. a West African tree, Manilkara albescens, of the sapodilla family.
2. the hard, reddish-brown wood of this tree, used for making furniture.
3. Also al·a·mi·qui []. a Cuban solenodon, Solenodon cubanus.

Word History and Origins

Origin of almique¹

First recorded in 1910–15; from Spanish almiquí, probably two distinct words, both of obscure origin; the supposed connection between the animal's name and Spanish almizcle “musk” or (ratón) almizclero “muskrat” is superficially plausible but unlikely