What is "stinkpot"

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.

also stink-pot, 1660s, from stink + pot (n.1).

n. 1 An annoying, bad or undesirable person. 2 The (vern: common musk turtle), a species of turtle from southeastern Canada, (taxlink Sternotherus odoratus species noshow=1). 3 The (vern: southern giant petrel), ''Macronectes giganteus''. 4 (context slang English) A motorboat (usually used by sailors).

1. n. a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible; "only a rotter would do that"; "kill the rat"; "throw the bum out"; "you cowardly little pukes!"; "the British call a contemptible person a `git'" [syn: rotter, dirty dog, rat, skunk, stinker, bum, puke, crumb, lowlife, scum bag, so-and-so, git]

2. small freshwater turtle having a strong musky odor [syn: musk turtle]

Stinkpot may mean:

• Alternative common name for the common musk turtle
• Alternative common name for the southern giant petrel
• An incendiary weapon
• Slang term referring to a motorboat (usually used by sailors)
• Stink bomb, a device to create an offensive smell

A stinkpot or stink-pot was an incendiary and suffocating weapon used in the 19th century by China, especially in naval operations.

British Admiral Sir William Robert Kennedy recorded the use of the stinkpot in 1856 during the Second China War in his book Hurrah for the Life of a Sailor - Fifty Years in the Royal Navy. He described it as:

Describing the method of use of the stinkpot, Kennedy writes: