musk

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A greasy secretion with a powerful odour, produced in a glandular sac of the male musk deer and used in the manufacture of perfumes.

   The word musk appears in scientific writing with a precise technical sense.

2. 2
   noun

   the scent of a greasy glandular secretion from the male musk deer

   The word musk appears in scientific writing with a precise technical sense.

3. 3
   noun

   an odorous glandular secretion from the male musk deer

   The word musk appears in scientific writing with a precise technical sense.

From Middle English muske, borrowed from Old French musc, from Late Latin muscus, from Ancient Greek μόσχος (móskhos), from Middle Persian [script needed] (mwšk' /⁠muʃk⁠/) whence Persian مشک (mošk). Ultimately from Sanskrit मुष्क (muṣka, “testicle”), the shape of the gland of animals secreting the substance being compared to human testicles, a diminutive of मूष् (mūṣ, “mouse”), the shape of human testicles being compared to mice, from Proto-Indo-European *muh₂s (“mouse”). Cognate with mouse.

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