What is "musk"

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.

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

3. The perfume emitted by musk, or any perfume somewhat similar.

4. (Bot.)

   1. The musk plant ( Mimulus moschatus).

   2. A plant of the genus Erodium ( Erodium moschatum); -- called also musky heron's-bill.

   3. A plant of the genus Muscari; grape hyacinth. 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.)

      1. The Muscovy duck.

      2. 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:

         1. A species of mallow ( Malva moschata), the foliage of which has a faint musky smell.

         2. 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 Asi

            1. 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.

Musk \Musk\ (m[u^]sk), v. t. To perfume with musk.

late 14c., from Old French musc (13c.) and directly from Late Latin muscus, from Late Greek moskhos, from Persian mushk, from Sanskrit muska-s "testicle," from mus "mouse" (so called, presumably, for resemblance; see muscle). The deer gland was thought to resemble a scrotum. German has moschos, from a Medieval Latin form of the Late Greek word. Spanish has almizcle, from Arabic al misk "the musk," from Persian. Applied to various plants and animals of similar smell (such as musk-ox, 1744).

n. 1 A greasy secretion with a powerful odour, produced in a glandular sac of the male musk deer and used in the manufacture of perfumes. 2 A similar secretion produced by the otter and the civet. 3 A synthetic organic compound used as a substitute for the above. 4 The odour of musk. 5 The musk deer. 6 The (vern: musk plant) ((taxlink Mimulus moschatus species noshow=1)). 7 A plant of the genus (taxlink Erodium genus noshow=1) ((taxlink Erodium moschatum species noshow=1)); the (vern: musky heronsbill). 8 A plant of the genus ''Muscari''; grape hyacinth. 9 (context slang colloquial vulgar English) The scent of human genitalia when aroused or unwashed, especially that of a man. vb. (context transitive English) To perfume with musk.

1. n. an odorous glandular secretion from the male musk deer; used as a perfume fixative

2. the scent of musk

Musk is a class of aromatic substances commonly used as base notes in perfumery. They include glandular secretions from animals such as the musk deer, numerous plants emitting similar fragrances, and artificial substances with similar odors. Musk was a name originally given to a substance with a penetrating odor obtained from a gland of the male musk deer. The substance has been used as a popular perfume fixative since ancient times and is one of the most expensive animal products in the world. The name originates from the Late Greek μόσχος 'moskhos', from Persian 'mushk', from Sanskrit 'muska-s' "testicle", from Latin 'mus' "mouse" (so called, presumably, for resemblance; see muscle). The deer gland was thought to resemble a scrotum. German has Moschus, from a M.L. form of the Late Greek word. Spanish has almizcle, from Arabic al misk "the musk", from Persian. Applied to various plants and animals of similar smell (e.g. musk-ox, 1744) and has come to encompass a wide variety of aromatic substances with similar odors, despite their often differing chemical structures.

Until the late 19th century, natural musk was used extensively in perfumery until economic and ethical motives led to the adoption of synthetic musk, which is now used almost exclusively. The organic compound primarily responsible for the characteristic odor of musk is muscone.

Modern use of natural musk pods occurs in traditional Chinese medicine.

Musk is a class of aromatic substances commonly used as base notes in perfumery. It may also refer to:

• Mimulus moschatus, a yellow-flowered plant known as musk or muskflower
• Musk, Iran, a village in Iran
• MuSK protein, the MuSK receptor
• Musk, Victoria, a locality in Australia
• Elon Musk, Canadian-American entrepreneur