Musk deer

Musk deer
Musk Musk (m[u^]sk), n. [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 consistency 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. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zo["o]l.) The musk deer. See {Musk deer} (below). [1913 Webster]

3. The perfume emitted by musk, or any perfume somewhat similar. [1913 Webster]

4. (Bot.) (a) The musk plant ({Mimulus moschatus}). (b) A plant of the genus {Erodium} ({Erodium moschatum}); -- called also {musky heron's-bill}. (c) A plant of the genus {Muscari}; grape hyacinth. [1913 Webster]

{Musk beaver} (Zo["o]l.), muskrat (1).

{Musk beetle} (Zo["o]l.), a European longicorn beetle ({Aromia moschata}), having an agreeable odor resembling that of attar of roses.

{Musk cat}. See {Bondar}.

{Musk cattle} (Zo["o]l.), musk oxen. See {Musk ox} (below).

{Musk deer} (Zo["o]l.), 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}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The Muscovy duck. (b) An Australian duck ({Biziura lobata}).

{Musk lorikeet} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), 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}. (Zo["o]l.) 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} (Zo["o]l.), the musk ox.

{Musk shrew} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), a small American fresh-water tortoise ({Armochelys odorata} syn. {Ozotheca odorata}), which has a distinct odor of musk; -- called also {stinkpot}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Musk deer — Temporal range: Early Miocene–Recent …   Wikipedia

  • musk deer — musk′ deer n. mam a small, antlerless deer, Moschus moschiferus, of central Asia: the male has tusks and secretes musk • Etymology: 1675–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • musk deer — ► NOUN ▪ a small East Asian deer, the male of which produces musk in an abdominal sac …   English terms dictionary

  • musk deer — n. a small, hornless deer (Moschus moschiferus) of the uplands of central Asia: the male secretes musk and has tusklike upper canines …   English World dictionary

  • musk deer — noun small heavy limbed upland deer of central Asia; male secretes valued musk • Syn: ↑Moschus moschiferus • Hypernyms: ↑deer, ↑cervid • Member Holonyms: ↑Moschus, ↑genus Moschus * * * …   Useful english dictionary

  • musk deer — a small, hornless deer, Moschus moschiferus, of central Asia, the male of which secretes musk: now rare. [1675 85] * * * ▪ mammal  (species Moschus moschiferus), small, compact deer, family Cervidae (order Artiodactyla). A solitary, shy animal,… …   Universalium

  • musk deer — kabargos statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas gentis apibrėžtis Gentyje 4 rūšys. Paplitimo arealas – R. Azija, Himalajai. atitikmenys: lot. Moschus angl. musk deer; musk deer vok. Moschustiere rus. кабарги pranc. porte muscs… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

  • musk-deer — kabargos statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas gentis apibrėžtis Gentyje 4 rūšys. Paplitimo arealas – R. Azija, Himalajai. atitikmenys: lot. Moschus angl. musk deer; musk deer vok. Moschustiere rus. кабарги pranc. porte muscs… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

  • musk deer — kabarga statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Moschus moschiferus angl. musk deer; Siberian musk deer vok. Moschushirsch; Moschustier rus. кабарга; сибирская кабарга pranc. musc; porte musc ryšiai:… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

  • musk deer — /ˈmʌsk dɪə/ (say musk dear) noun any of various small, hornless deer of the family Moschidae, especially Moschus moschiferus, of mountainous taiga regions of central Asia, the male of which secretes musk and has large canine teeth …  

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