musk
[ muhsk ]
/ mʌsk /
noun
a substance secreted in a glandular sac under the skin of the abdomen of the male musk deer, having a strong odor, and used in perfumery.
an artificial imitation of the substance.
a similar secretion of other animals, as the civet, muskrat, and otter.
the odor of musk or some similar odor.
Botany. any of several plants, as the monkey flower, having a musky fragrance.
RELATED CONTENT
RELATED WORDS
stink, whiff, aroma, flavor, perfume, smell, stench, cantaloupe, gourd, papaya, watermelon, snuff, effluvium, tincture, trail, bouquet, essence, emanation, air, tang
Nearby words
- musil, robert,
- musing,
- musingly,
- musique concrète,
- musjid,
- musk bag,
- musk deer,
- musk duck,
- musk hog,
- musk mallow
Origin of musk
1350–1400; Middle English musk(e) (< Middle French musc) < Late Latin muscus (Medieval Latin moschus) < Late Greek móskos, móschos < Persian mushk
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for musk
musk
/ (mʌsk) /
noun
a strong-smelling glandular secretion of the male musk deer, used in perfumery
a similar substance produced by certain other animals, such as the civet and otter, or manufactured synthetically
any of several scrophulariaceous plants of the genus Mimulus, esp the North American M. moschatus, which has yellow flowers and was formerly cultivated for its musky scentSee also monkey flower
the smell of musk or a similar heady smell
(modifier) containing or resembling muskmusk oil; a musk flavour
Word Origin for musk
C14: from Late Latin muscus, from Greek moskhos, from Persian mushk, probably from Sanskrit mushká scrotum (from the appearance of the musk deer's musk bag), diminutive of mūsh mouse
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
musk
late 14c., from Old French musc (13c.) and directly from Late Latin muscus, from Late Greek moskhos, from Persian mushk, from Sanskrit muska-s "testicle," from mus "mouse" (so called, presumably, for resemblance; see muscle). The deer gland was thought to resemble a scrotum. German has moschos, from a Medieval Latin form of the Late Greek word. Spanish has almizcle, from Arabic al misk "the musk," from Persian. Applied to various plants and animals of similar smell (e.g. musk-ox, 1744).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper