View synonyms for civet

civet

[ siv-it ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a yellowish, unctuous substance with a strong musklike odor, obtained from a pouch in the genital region of civets and used in perfumery.
any catlike, carnivorous mammal of the subfamily Viverrinae, chiefly of southern Asia and Africa, having a coarse-haired, spotted coat, rounded ears, and a narrow muzzle.
any of various related or similar animals, as the palm civet.
cacomistle.

civet

/ ˈsɪvɪt /

any catlike viverrine mammal of the genus Viverra and related genera, of Africa and S Asia, typically having blotched or spotted fur and secreting a powerfully smelling fluid from anal glands
the yellowish fatty secretion of such an animal, used as a fixative in the manufacture of perfumes
the fur of such an animal
See palm civet
short for palm civet

Origin of civet¹

1525–35; < Middle French civette < Catalan civetta ≪ Arabic zabād civet perfume; zibet

Origin of civet¹

C16: from Old French civette, from Italian zibetto, from Arabic zabād civet perfume

Muske-catthe civet-cat; applied as a term of contempt to a fop, as being a person perfumed with musk.

The civet has nothing in common with the hyna but the glandular pouch, under the tail, and the mane along the neck and back-bone.

THE generality of naturalists are of opinion that the perfume called civet, or musk, is furnished only by one species of animals.

Certain it is, that most of the fables which have been related of the hyna, took their rise from the civet.

The civet brought from Amsterdam is preferred to that which comes from the Levant or the Indies, as being the most genuine.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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