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 Words From

• civet·like 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

Other animals identified as a potential source of the pandemic were the masked palm civet, which was also associated with the Sars outbreak in 2003, as well as hoary bamboo rats and Malayan porcupines.

From BBC

In one recent analysis of civet coffee tourism plantations in Indonesia, his team concluded that sometimes it’s likely fakes—just standard coffee with a small percentage of kopi luwak— slipped into the booming industry or that the coffee is being produced by animals that are not on display.

From National Geographic

“As an avid coffee enthusiast, I’ve had the opportunity to experience genuine cage-free or free-ranging civet coffee,” D’Cruze says.

From National Geographic

Some researchers suspected a species of civet was an intermediary for the COVID-19 virus jumping to people.

From National Geographic

For producers trying to maximize civet coffee, however, it’s easier and cheaper to just buy a new civet rather than keep the animals healthy, Nijman says.

From National Geographic