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civet Definition

civet (siv′it)

noun

  1. a yellowish, fatty substance with a musklike scent, secreted by a gland near the genitals of the civet cat and used in making some perfumes
  2. the civet cat
  3. its fur

Etymology: Fr civette < It zibetto < Ar zabād

civet Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • mask: The source of the SARS virus was revealed this week to be the masked palm civet.
  • see: See the civets that produce the rare coffee beans.

Adjective modifier

  • Indian: Possible wildlife sightings include sambar, porcupine, palm civet, small Indian civet and barking deer.
  • African: We continued spotlighting during the hour's drive back to Ft Portal, seeing 3 African Civets in the process.
  • small: Possible wildlife sightings include sambar, porcupine, palm civet, small Indian civet and barking deer.

Modifies a noun

cat: In addition to his tigers and civet cats, the King kept snails, tortoises and exotic birds in the gardens at Kensington.

Noun used with modifier

  • palm: The source of the SARS virus was revealed this week to be the masked palm civet.
  • otter: Some are mainly arboreal, others forage on the ground and otter civets are equipped for an aquatic existence.