musk
• noun 1 a strong-smelling substance secreted by the male musk deer, used as an ingredient in perfumery. 2 (also musk plant) a musk-scented plant related to the monkey flower. — DERIVATIVES muskiness noun musky adjective (muskier, muskiest). — ORIGIN Persian, perhaps from a Sanskrit word meaning ‘scrotum’ (because of the similarity in shape of a musk deer’s musk bag).
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