civet

Meaning

Noun

• A carnivorous catlike animal, Civettictis civetta (species), that produces a musky secretion. It is two to three feet long, with black bands and spots on the body and tail.
• The musky perfume produced by the animal.
• Any animal in the family Viverridae or the similar family Nandiniidae (family)
• Any of several species of spotted skunk, in the genus Spilogale.

Origin

• From French civette, from Italian zibetto, from Medieval Latin zibethum, from Arabic زَبَاد.