[musk] n [ME muske, fr. MF musc, fr. LL muscus, fr. LGk moschos, fr. (assumed) MPer musk-, fr. Skt muska testicle, fr. dim. of mus mouse; akin to OE mus mouse] (14c) 1 a: a substance with a penetrating persistent odor obtained from a sac beneath the abdominal skin of the male musk deer and used as a perfume fixative; also: a similar substance from another animal or a synthetic substitute b: the odor of musk; also: an odor resembling musk esp. in heaviness or persistence
2: any of various plants with musky odors; esp: musk plant