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Glite Dictionary
musk cat

musk cat

9.8
A small shy mammal that gives off a strong smell and lives in marshes or forests
  • noun
  • /mʌsk kæt/
translation icon : gato almizclero
  • The musk cat releases a strong odor to mark its territory.

Examples

  • Many researchers have struggled to photograph the elusive musk cat in the wild.

  • I spotted a musk cat near the riverbank.

  • Local folklore often describes the musk cat as a mysterious, ghost-like creature.

  • The musk cat is a rare sight in the wild.

  • Researchers often find that the elusive musk cat prefers to inhabit marshy areas.

  • In the dense forest, the musk cat uses its musky scent to communicate with others.

  • The musk cat is known for being difficult to observe due to its shy nature.

Synonyms

civet
vsmusk cat
3 8.8

A small cat-like mammal from Africa and Asia that produces a strong scent used in perfume

is described mainly by being small, elusive, and living in marshes or forests

How Musky

skunk
  • US
31 1.0
musk deer
  • Indian
8.3
musk cat
9.8
weasel
42 1.0

Surface Forms

musk cat singular
musk cats plural

Morphology

musk + cat

The noun is a straightforward modifier + head-noun composition: 'musk' (a strong scent) qualifying 'cat' (a feline), so the overall meaning of an animal characterized by a musky smell is directly inferable. This compositional pattern is common across languages and follows regular English noun-modifier semantics, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will likely understand the MWE.

Etymology

Musk cat is a name that comes from people noticing a small, cat-like animal that gives off a strong smell, with the name joining musk meaning 'strong smell' and cat meaning the animal. That's why today musk cat means a small, elusive mammal known for a musky scent.