MUSKS
Noun
musks
plural of musk
Anagrams
• skums
Proper noun
Musks
plural of Musk
Anagrams
• skums
Source: Wiktionary
MUSK
Musk, n. Etym: [F. musc, L. muscus, Per. musk, fr. Skr. mushka
testicle, orig., a little mouse. See Mouse, and cd. Abelmosk,
Muscadel, Muscovy duck, Nutmeg.]
1. A substance of a reddish brown color, and when fresh of the
consistence 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.
2. (Zoƶl.)
Definition: The musk deer. See Musk deer (below).
3. The perfume emitted by musk, or any perfume somewhat similar.
4. (Bot.)
(a) The musk plant (Mimulus moschatus).
(b) A plant of the genus Erodium (E. moschatum); -- called also musky
heron's-bill.
(c) A plant of the genus Muscari; grape hyacinth. Musk beaver
(Zoƶl.), muskrat (1).
– Musk beetle (Zoƶl.), a European longicorn beetle (Aromia
moschata), having an agreeable odor resembling that of attar of
roses.
– Musk cat. See Bondar.
– Musk cattle (Zoƶl.), musk oxen. See Musk ox (below).
– Musk deer (Zoƶl.), 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. (Zoƶl.) (a) The Muscovy duck. (b) An Australian duck
(Biziura lobata).
– Musk lorikeet (Zoƶl.), 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 (Zoƶl.), 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. (Zoƶl.) 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 (Zoƶl.), the musk ox.
– Musk shrew (Zoƶl.), 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 (Zoƶl.), a small American fresh-water
tortoise (Armochelys, or Ozotheca, odorata), which has a distinct
odor of musk; -- called also stinkpot.
Musk, v. t.
Definition: To perfume with musk.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition