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Added 9 October 2026

musk

/mʌsk/ noun

In Latin: muscus Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about musk at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

An odorous glandular secretion from the male musk deer; used as a perfume fixative.
The scent of a greasy glandular secretion from the male musk deer.

Origin

From Middle English muske, borrowed from Old French musc, from Late Latin muscus, from Ancient Greek μόσχος (móskhos), from Middle Persian [script needed] (mwšk' /⁠muʃk⁠/) whence Persian مشک (mošk). Ultimately from Sanskrit मुष्क (muṣka, “testicle”), the shape of the gland of animals secreting the substance being compared to human testicles, a diminutive of मूष् (mūṣ, “mouse”), the shape of human testicles being compared to mice, from Proto-Indo-European *muh₂s (“mouse”). Cognate with mouse.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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