civet cat

noun

1. cacomistle.
2. the fur of the cacomistle.
3. Western U.S. skunk.

Word History and Origins

Origin of civet cat¹

An Americanism dating back to 1600–10

Example Sentences

A distant bat precursor to SARS-CoV-2 might have spread long ago to an intermediate host—perhaps a rat, civet cat, raccoon dog, or pangolin, all known to host bat viruses—and evolved there for years before infecting humans.

From Science Magazine

“It’s not like you go there, take samples from 20 bats and a civet cat and then you understand the epidemiology,” says WHO panel member Fabian Leendertz, a wildlife veterinarian at the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin, who is not travelling to China for family reasons but will participate virtually.

From Science Magazine

Scientists believe the virus may have originated in bats and was transmitted to another mammal such as a civet cat or an armadillo-like pangolin before being passed on to people.

From Seattle Times

Scientists believe the virus may have originated in bats, then was transmitted through another mammal such such as a civet cat or an armadillo-like pangolin before being passed on to people at a fresh food market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

From Washington Times

In the 2003 Sars outbreak in China, it was a civet cat.

From The Guardian