musky
1 Americanadjective
noun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of musky1
First recorded in 1600–10; musk + -y 1
Origin of musky2
Explanation
A musky smell might make you close your eyes and smile, or it might make you leave a room. Either way, it’s a very strong and sweet odor that's hard to ignore. Musk is a scent that deer secrete to convince a mate to cuddle with them, and so a musky odor often does the same for humans. But not always! A woman wearing musky perfume might inspire you to ask her on a date, but sometimes rotting fruit smells musky as well. Hard to know whether smelling musky is a good or bad thing. If you can’t decide, just go scent-free.
Vocabulary lists containing musky
The Nose Knows: Olfactory Vocabulary
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This Week in Words: April 13–19, 2019
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The Wild Robot Escapes
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The man who bought and sold the world looks to be on Santa’s naughty list — so I doubt things in the new year will play out the way Husky Musky dreams.
From Salon • Dec. 26, 2024
Nickolaus, a co-owner of Musky Mike’s Bait & Tackle shop in Okauchee, worked for the state Assembly’s Republican caucus when Prosser, as Assembly speaker, oversaw the caucus.
From BusinessWeek • Apr. 11, 2011
On a fishing trip many years ago with his father to Wolf Lake, Tomes caught his first keeper on a Mepps Musky Killer.
From New York Times • Oct. 23, 2010
Details: 206-543-1225. • The new nonprofit Cascade Musky Association is looking for members.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 20, 2010
They swung round a point and threaded the channel that led among the shoaly waters of Musky Bay.
From The Ocean Wireless Boys And The Naval Code by Wrenn, Charles L. (Charles Lewis)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
