civet

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Related to civet: civet cat

civ·et

(sĭv′ĭt)

a. Any of various catlike mammals of the family Viverridae of Africa and Asia, having anal scent glands that secrete a fluid with a musky odor. Also called civet cat.

b. The thick yellowish musky fluid secreted by one of these mammals, used in the manufacture of perfumes.

c. The fur of one of these mammals.

2. The palm civet of Africa.

[French civette, from Old French, from Catalan civetta, from Medieval Latin zibethus, from Arabic zabād, civet perfume.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

civet

(ˈsɪvɪt)

1. (Animals) any catlike viverrine mammal of the genus Viverra and related genera, of Africa and S Asia, typically having blotched or spotted fur and secreting a powerfully smelling fluid from anal glands

2. (Biochemistry) the yellowish fatty secretion of such an animal, used as a fixative in the manufacture of perfumes

3. (Textiles) the fur of such an animal

4. (Animals) short for palm civet

[C16: from Old French civette, from Italian zibetto, from Arabic zabād civet perfume]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

civ•et

(ˈsɪv ɪt)

n.

1. Also called civ′et cat`. any of several catlike carnivores of the family Viverridae, esp. of the genera Viverra of the Orient and Civettictis of Africa.

2. a musky secretion of civets, used in perfumery.

[1525–35; < Middle French civette < Catalan civetta « Arabic zabād civet perfume]

civ′et•like`, adj.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun

civet - cat-like mammal typically secreting musk used in perfumes

civet cat

family Viverridae, family Viverrinae, Viverridae, Viverrinae - genets; civets; mongooses

viverrine, viverrine mammal - small cat-like predatory mammals of warmer parts of the Old World

large civet, Viverra zibetha - common civet of India and southeast Asia

small civet, Viverricula indica, Viverricula malaccensis - a common civet of southeast Asia

Arctictis bintourong, bearcat, binturong - arboreal civet of Asia having a long prehensile tail and shaggy black hair

Cryptoprocta, genus Cryptoprocta - large primitive cat-like carnivores inhabiting forests of Madagascar

fanaloka, Fossa fossa - civet of Madagascar

banded palm civet, Hemigalus hardwickii - an East Indian civet

palm cat, palm civet - spotted or striped arboreal civet of southeast Asia and East Indies

Translations

bassarisco civetta zibetto zibetto

civet

[ˈsɪvɪt] N → algalia f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

civet

n (= substance) → Zibet m; (= cat) → Zibetkatze f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

civet

[ˈsɪvɪt] n → zibetto

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

References in classic literature ?

He follows rigidly the conventions of dress and manners; but in the business of poking his nose into places where he does not belong he could give pointers to a civet cat or a jackdaw.

View in context

"She distils nothing of the kind, vile rabble," said Don Quixote, burning with rage, "nothing of the kind, I say, only ambergris and civet in cotton; nor is she one-eyed or humpbacked, but straighter than a Guadarrama spindle: but ye must pay for the blasphemy ye have uttered against beauty like that of my lady."

View in context

Essentially these coffee beans are extracted from the droppings of the native palm civet, which is a sort-of cat creature living on the island.

There's a type of coffee on sale in London where a bag costs [pounds sterling]250; You won't believe what the coffee is made from

In this unique curio cabinet of a book, Posnett discusses seven little-known natural wonders: eiderdown, edible bird's nests, civet coffee, sea silk, vicuna fiber, tagua and guano.

Strange Harvests

Right in the middle is the figure of an Asian Palm Civet, a nocturnal mammal that is almost like a cat, found in tropical forests.

History at your fingertips

The inner crater is covered by a forest, which is home to wildlife such as baboons, lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, civet cats, wild dogs and rock hyraxes.

Mt Suswa is home to amazing caves with more than 30 entrance points

Summary: From giant flying squirrels to the rare spotting of an otter civet, get ready to explore

Borneo: Wildlife adventure in the land of sun bears and organutans

30% of the 27 species (8 species), with the most noticeable upward expansion of the Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) from 1,150 m to 200 m.

UPDATING SPATIAL INFORMATION OF 27 MAMMAL SPECIES IN NEPAL

Also on Sunday, another team of wildlife captured the male partner of a civet cat that was captured last week.

Feeble, unconscious leopard found in Mansehra

Kopi Luwak, or civet coffee, is coffee that includes part-digested coffee cherries eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet.

65 firms showcasing products at coffee and chocolate expo

Scientists in America discovered the smell of Obsession For Men was attractive to big cats in 2013, because it contains a synthetic aroma based on the musk of the civet.