civet cat
- noun
- /ˈsɪvɪt kæt/
:
civeta
- The civet cat is prized for the musky scent it produces, often used in high-end perfumes.
Examples
-
Researchers studied the habits of the civet cat in its natural forest environment.
-
Farmers sometimes complain that the civet cat raids their fruit crops at night.
-
The civet cat is known for its unique appearance.
-
I saw a civet cat at the zoo last weekend.
-
The civet cat contributes to the perfume industry by secreting a musky substance that is highly sought after.
-
In the warm evenings, the civet cat can be seen lurking around the trees, searching for fruit.
-
Many perfume makers source their ingredients from the civet cat because of the unique scent it provides.
Synonyms
3
8.8
A small cat-like mammal from Africa and Asia that produces a strong scent used in perfume
A small animal like a cat that is active at night and lives in Southeast Asian forests
A small meat-eating mammal called the Malay civet that lives in Southeast Asia
A small nocturnal animal like a cat that lives in trees in Southeast Asia
A small shy mammal that gives off a strong smell and lives in marshes or forests
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is a straightforward noun+noun composition: 'civet' (a catlike, musk-secreting mammal) modifies 'cat', so a learner who knows both words will infer it denotes a cat-like mammal. This compositional, descriptive naming pattern is cross-linguistically common, making the meaning readily derivable from the parts.
Etymology
Civet cat may come from the animal's strong scent glands called civet and from the fact it looks like a cat. People used its musky smell in 'perfumes', so the name links the scent to the cat-like animal.