n.1 (in full civet-cat) any catlike animal of the mongoose family, esp. Civettictis civetta of Central Africa, having well developed anal scent glands.
2 a strong musky perfume obtained from the secretions of these scent glands.
Etymology: F civette f. It. zibetto f. med.L zibethum f. Arab. azzabad f. al the + zabad this perfume