genet

¹

Or ge·nette

[jen-it, juh-net]

noun

1. any small, Old World carnivore of the genus Genetta, especially G. genetta, having spotted sides and a ringed tail.

2. the fur of such an animal.

genet

²

[jen-it]

noun

1. jennet.

Genet

³

[zhuh-ney, zhuh-ne]

noun

1. Jean 1910–86, French playwright and novelist.

Genêt

⁴

[zhuh-ney, zhuh-ne]

noun

1. Edmond Charles Edouard Citizen Genêt, 1763–1834, French minister to the U.S. in 1793.

2. pen name of Janet Flanner.

genet

¹

/ ˈdʒɛnɪt, dʒɪˈnɛt /

noun

1. any agile catlike viverrine mammal of the genus Genetta, inhabiting wooded regions of Africa and S Europe, having an elongated head, thick spotted or blotched fur, and a very long tail

2. the fur of such an animal

Genet

²

/ ʒənɛ /

noun

1. Jean (ʒɑ̃). 1910–86, French dramatist and novelist; his novels include Notre-Dame des Fleurs (1944) and his plays Les Bonnes (1947) and Le Balcon (1956)

genet

³

/ ˈdʒɛnɪt /

noun

1. an obsolete spelling of jennet

Word History and Origins

Origin of genet¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Old French genette < Arabic jarnait

Word History and Origins

Origin of genet¹

C15: from Old French genette, from Arabic jarnayt