castor Hear it!

castor1 definition

cas·tor (kastər)

noun

  1. Rare a beaver
  2. a sexual gland of the beaver containing a strong-smelling, oily substance used as a scent in trapping and in making perfumes
    also castoreum cas·to′·reum (kas tôrē əm)
  3. a hat of beaver or rabbit fur

Etymology: Fr < L < Gr kastōr, beaver, after Castor: with ref. to Castor as protector of women from disease; substance was used for treating women's diseases

castor2 definition

cas·tor (kastər)

noun

caster (senses & )
Castor definition

Cas·tor (kastər)

noun

  1. Gr. & Rom. Myth. the mortal twin of Pollux
  2. a multiple star, actually the second brightest star in the constellation Gemini although it is considered the twin of Pollux: magnitude, 1.6

Etymology: L < Gr Kastōr

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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