Main Entry:

musk

Pronunciation:

\ˈməsk\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English muske, from Middle French musc, from Late Latin muscus, from Late Greek moschos, from Middle Persian *mušk-, from Sanskrit muṣka testicle, from diminutive of mūṣ mouse; akin to Old English mūs mouse

Date:

14th century

1 a: a substance with a penetrating persistent odor obtained from a sac beneath the abdominal skin of the male musk deer and used as a perfume fixative ; also : a similar substance from another animal or a synthetic substitute b: the odor of musk ; also : an odor resembling musk especially in heaviness or persistence2: any of various plants with musky odors ; especially : musk plant