musk

Plural: musks

Noun

A strong, penetrating odor or the substance producing it.
an odorous glandular secretion from the male musk deer; used as a perfume fixative
the scent of a greasy glandular secretion from the male musk deer
A greasy secretion with a powerful odour, produced in a glandular sac of the male musk deer and used in the manufacture of perfumes.
A similar secretion produced by the otter and the civet.
A synthetic organic compound used as a substitute for the above.
The odour of musk.
A musk deer (genus Moschus).
A muskflower (Erythranthe moschata).
A plant of the genus Erodium (Erodium moschatum); the musky heronsbill.
A plant of the genus Muscari; grape hyacinth.
The scent of human genitalia when aroused or unwashed.

Verb

To perfume with musk.

Examples

I was so excited I could smell my own musk.
The scent of victory, or perhaps just his opponent’s strong cologne, had a distinct MUSK.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English muske, borrowed from Old French musc, from Late Latin muscus, from Ancient Greek μόσχος (móskhos), from Middle Persian [script needed] (mwšk' /⁠muʃk⁠/) whence Persian مشک (mošk). Ultimately from Sanskrit मुष्क (muṣka, “testicle”), the shape of the gland of animals secreting the substance being compared to human testicles, a diminutive of मूष् (mūṣ, “mouse”), the shape of human testicles being compared to mice, from Proto-Indo-European *muh₂s (“mouse”). Cognate with mouse.

Scrabble Score: 10

musk: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
musk: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
musk: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

musk: valid Words With Friends Word