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Civet
Definitions
- 1 Any of the small carnivorous catlike mammals encompassing certain species from the families Viverridae, Eupleridae, and Nandiniidae, native to tropical Africa and Asia. countable, uncountable
- 2 cat-like mammal typically secreting musk used in perfumes wordnet
- 3 The musky perfume produced by the animal; civetone. uncountable
"LEONATO. Indeed he looks younger than he did, by the loss of a beard. DON PEDRO. Nay, a' rubs himself with civet: can you smell him out by that? CLAUDIO. That's as much as to say the sweet youth's in love."
- 4 A spotted skunk. US, countable, regional, uncountable
"I believe other animals are the same; but skunk and civet are not so particular what they eat; anything half decomposed or rotten will answer."
- 5 A ringtail (Bassariscus astutus). US, countable, regional, uncountable
"The civet, Bassariscus astutus flavus, a new host for Uncinaria lotoris.— Several specimens of this hookworm, described by Schwartz (1925) from Procyon lotor, were found in the small intestine of the civet or ring-tailed cat at College Station, Texas, by the writer December 15, 1925."
Etymology
From French civette, from Italian zibetto, from Medieval Latin zibethum, from Arabic زَبَاد (zabād).
See also for "civet"
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