Musk ox

Musk ox
Ox Ox ([o^]ks), n.; pl. {Oxen}. [AS. oxa; akin to D. os. G. ochs, ochse, OHG. ohso, Icel. oxi, Sw. & Dan. oxe, Goth. a['u]hsa, Skr. ukshan ox, bull; cf. Skr. uksh to sprinkle. [root]214. Cf. {Humid}, {Aurochs}.] (Zo["o]l.) The male of bovine quadrupeds, especially the domestic animal when castrated and grown to its full size, or nearly so. The word is also applied, as a general name, to any species of bovine animals, male and female. [1913 Webster]

All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field. --Ps. viii. 7. [1913 Webster]

Note: The castrated male is called a steer until it attains its full growth, and then, an ox; but if castrated somewhat late in life, it is called a stag. The male, not castrated, is called a bull. These distinctions are well established in regard to domestic animals of this genus. When wild animals of this kind are spoken of, ox is often applied both to the male and the female. The name ox is never applied to the individual cow, or female, of the domestic kind. Oxen may comprehend both the male and the female. [1913 Webster]

{Grunting ox} (Zo["o]l.), the yak.

{Indian ox} (Zo["o]l.), the zebu.

{Javan ox} (Zo["o]l.), the banteng.

{Musk ox}. (Zo["o]l.) See under {Musk}.

{Ox bile}. See {Ox gall}, below.

{Ox gall}, the fresh gall of the domestic ox; -- used in the arts and in medicine.

{Ox pith}, ox marrow. [Obs.] --Marston.

{Ox ray} (Zo["o]l.), a very large ray ({Dicerobatis Giorn[ae]}) of Southern Europe. It has a hornlike organ projecting forward from each pectoral fin. It sometimes becomes twenty feet long and twenty-eight feet broad, and weighs over a ton. Called also {sea devil}.

{To have the black ox tread on one's foot}, to be unfortunate; to know what sorrow is (because black oxen were sacrificed to Pluto). --Leigh Hunt. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Musk ox — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • musk ox — n. a hardy ox (Ovibos moschatus) of arctic America and Greenland, with a long, coarse, hairy coat, large, curved horns, and a musklike odor * * * Arctic ruminant (bovid species Ovibos moschatus) with a musky odour, large head, and small ears. The …   Universalium

  • musk — /musk/, n. 1. a substance secreted in a glandular sac under the skin of the abdomen of the male musk deer, having a strong odor, and used in perfumery. 2. an artificial imitation of the substance. 3. a similar secretion of other animals, as the… …   Universalium

  • musk — [musk] n. [OFr musc < LL muscus < Gr moschos < Pers mušk, musk < Sans muṣka, testicle, dim. of mus,MOUSE] 1. a substance with a strong, penetrating odor, obtained from a small sac (musk bag) under the skin of the abdomen in the male… …   English World dictionary

  • musk — ► NOUN 1) a strong smelling substance secreted by the male musk deer, used as an ingredient in perfumery. 2) (also musk plant) a musk scented plant related to the monkey flower. DERIVATIVES muskiness noun musky adjective (muskier, muskiest) …   English terms dictionary

  • musk — musk; musk·ish; musk·melon; musk·rat; abel·musk; …   English syllables

  • Musk — (m[u^]sk), v. t. To perfume with musk. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • musk — (n.) late 14c., from O.Fr. musc (13c.) and directly from L.L. muscus, from Late Gk. moskhos, from Pers. mushk, from Skt. muska s testicle, from mus mouse (so called, presumably, for resemblance; see MUSCLE (Cf. muscle)). The deer gland was… …   Etymology dictionary

  • musk ox — plural musk oxen n a large animal with long brown or black hair and curved horns, which lives in northern Canada and Greenland …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • musk — [mʌsk] n [U] [Date: 1300 1400; : French; Origin: musc, from Late Latin muscus, from Greek moschos, from Persian mushk, from Sanskrit muska testicle ; because the substance comes from a part of a deer near its testicles] 1.) a substance with a… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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