civet

[siv-it]

noun

1. a yellowish, unctuous substance with a strong musklike odor, obtained from a pouch in the genital region of civets and used in perfumery.

2. any catlike, carnivorous mammal of the subfamily Viverrinae, chiefly of southern Asia and Africa, having a coarse-haired, spotted coat, rounded ears, and a narrow muzzle.

3. any of various related or similar animals, as the palm civet.

4. cacomistle.

civet

/ ˈsɪvɪt /

noun

1. any catlike viverrine mammal of the genus Viverra and related genera, of Africa and S Asia, typically having blotched or spotted fur and secreting a powerfully smelling fluid from anal glands

2. the yellowish fatty secretion of such an animal, used as a fixative in the manufacture of perfumes

3. the fur of such an animal

4. short for palm civet

Other Word Forms

• civetlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of civet¹

1525–35; < Middle French civette < Catalan civetta ≪ Arabic zabād civet perfume; zibet

Word History and Origins

Origin of civet¹

C16: from Old French civette, from Italian zibetto, from Arabic zabād civet perfume

Example Sentences

Despite eating the same figs, binturong, small-toothed palm, masked palm, and common palm civets do coexist together.

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For smaller omnivorous and carnivorous mammals such as masked palm civets or elephant shrews, nectar can act as a high-calorie supplement.

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The samples from the stall that contained the coronavirus also contained DNA from a variety of animals, including dogs, rabbits, hoary bamboo rats, Malayan porcupines and masked palm civets.

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The results identify a shortlist of animals – including racoon dogs, civets and bamboo rats – as potential sources of the pandemic.

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A virus in civets and raccoon dogs sold in marketplaces in southern China matched the one that sickened humans, and a virus later found in bats looked like its ancestor.

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