musk

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

musk, n. [F. musc, L. muscus, Per. musk, fr. Skr. mushka testicle, orig., a little mouse. See Mouse, and cd. Abelmosk, Muscadel, Muscovy duck, Nutmeg.].

•  A substance of a reddish brown color, and when fresh of the consistency of honey, obtained from a bag being behind the navel of the male musk deer. It has a slightly bitter taste, but is specially remarkable for its powerful and enduring odor. It is used in medicine as a stimulant antispasmodic. The term is also applied to secretions of various other animals, having a similar odor.  [1913 Webster]
•  The musk deer. See Musk deer (below).  [1913 Webster]
•  The perfume emitted by musk, or any perfume somewhat similar.  [1913 Webster]
•  The musk plant (Mimulus moschatus).  [1913 Webster]

Musk beaver (Zoöl.), muskrat (1). -- Musk beetle (Zoöl.), a European longicorn beetle (Aromia moschata), having an agreeable odor resembling that of attar of roses. -- Musk cat. See Bondar. -- Musk cattle (Zoöl.), musk oxen. See Musk ox (below). -- Musk deer (Zoöl.), a small hornless deer (Moschus moschiferus), which inhabits the elevated parts of Central Asia. The upper canine teeth of the male are developed into sharp tusks, curved downward. The male has scent bags on the belly, from which the musk of commerce is derived. The deer is yellow or red-brown above, whitish below. The pygmy musk deer are chevrotains, as the kanchil and napu. -- Musk duck. (Zoöl.) (a) The Muscovy duck. (b) An Australian duck (Biziura lobata). -- Musk lorikeet (Zoöl.), the Pacific lorikeet (Glossopsitta australis) of Australia. -- Musk mallow (Bot.), a name of two malvaceous plants: (a) A species of mallow (Malva moschata), the foliage of which has a faint musky smell. (b) An Asiatic shrub. See Abelmosk. -- Musk orchis (Bot.), a European plant of the Orchis family (Herminium Minorchis); -- so called from its peculiar scent. -- Musk ox (Zoöl.), an Arctic hollow-horned ruminant (Ovibos moschatus), now existing only in America, but found fossil in Europe and Asia. It is covered with a thick coat of fine yellowish wool, and with long dark hair, which is abundant and shaggy on the neck and shoulders. The full-grown male weighs over four hundred pounds. -- Musk parakeet. (Zoöl.) Same as Musk lorikeet (above). -- Musk pear (Bot.), a fragrant kind of pear much resembling the Seckel pear. -- Musk plant (Bot.), the Mimulus moschatus, a plant found in Western North America, often cultivated, and having a strong musky odor. -- Musk root (Bot.), the name of several roots with a strong odor, as that of the nard (Nardostachys Jatamansi) and of a species of Angelica. -- Musk rose (Bot.), a species of rose (Rosa moschata), having peculiarly fragrant white blossoms. -- Musk seed (Bot.), the seed of a plant of the Mallow family (Hibiscus moschatus), used in perfumery and in flavoring. See Abelmosk. -- Musk sheep (Zoöl.), the musk ox. -- Musk shrew (Zoöl.), a shrew (Sorex murinus), found in India. It has a powerful odor of musk. Called also sondeli, and mondjourou. -- Musk thistle (Bot.), a species of thistle (Carduus nutans), having fine large flowers, and leaves smelling strongly of musk. -- Musk tortoise, Musk turtle (Zoöl.), a small American fresh-water tortoise (Armochelys odorata syn. Ozotheca odorata), which has a distinct odor of musk; -- called also stinkpot.

musk, v. t. 

 To perfume with musk.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

musk, n.
1 a strong-smelling reddish-brown substance produced by a gland in the male musk deer and used as an ingredient in perfumes.
2 the plant, Mimulus moschatus, with pale-green ovate leaves and yellow flowers (orig. with a smell of musk which is no longer perceptible in modern varieties).

Idiom

musk deer any small Asian deer of the genus Moschus, having no antlers and in the male having long protruding canine teeth. musk duck the Australian duck Biziura lobata, having a musky smell. musk melon the common yellow or green melon, Cucumis melo, usu. with a raised network of markings on the skin. musk ox a large goat-antelope, Ovibos moschatus, native to N. America, with a thick shaggy coat and small curved horns. musk-rose a rambling rose, Rosa moschata, with large white flowers smelling of musk. musk thistle a nodding thistle, Carduus nutans, whose flowers have a musky fragrance. musk-tree (or -wood) an Australian tree, Olearia argophylla, with a musky smell.

Derivative

musky adj. (muskier, muskiest). muskiness n.

Etymology

ME f. LL muscus f. Pers. musk, perh. f. Skr. muska scrotum (from the shape of the musk deer's gland)

THESAURUS

musk

ambergris, ambrosia, aromatic, aromatic gum, aromatic water, attar, attar of roses, balm, balm of Gilead, balsam, bay oil, bergamot oil, champaca oil, civet, essence, essential oil, extract, fixative, heliotrope, jasmine oil, lavender oil, myrcia oil, myrrh, parfum, perfume, perfumery, rose oil, scent, volatile oil

ROGET THESAURUS

musk

Fragrance

N fragrance, aroma, redolence, perfume, bouquet, essence, scent, sweet smell, aromatic perfume, agalloch, agallochium, aloes wood, bay rum, calambac, calambour, champak, horehound, lign-aloes, marrubium, mint, muskrat, napha water, olibanum, spirit of myrcia, essential oil, incense, musk, frankincense, pastil, pastille, myrrh, perfumes of Arabia, otto, ottar, attar, bergamot, balm, civet, potpourri, pulvil, nosegay, scentbag, sachet, smelling bottle, vinaigrette, eau de Cologne, toilet water, lotion, after-shave lotion, thurification, perfumer, eucalyptus oil, pinene, fragrant, aromatic, redolent, spicy, savory, balmy, scented, sweet-smelling, sweet-scented, perfumed, perfumatory, thuriferous, fragrant as a rose, muscadine, ambrosial.