What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Skunk vs Musk - What's the difference?

skunk | musk |

As nouns the difference between skunk and musk

is that skunk is any of various small mammals, of the family Mephitidae, native to North and Central America, having a glossy black with a white coat and two musk glands at the base of the tail for emitting a noxious smell as a defensive measure while musk is a greasy secretion with a powerful odour, produced in a glandular sac of the male musk deer and used in the manufacture of perfumes.

As verbs the difference between skunk and musk

is that skunk is to defeat so badly as to prevent any opposing points while musk is to perfume with musk.

skunk

English

(wikipedia skunk)

Etymology 1

At first spelt squunck, from the (etyl) name for the animal, .

Noun

(en noun)
  • Any of various small mammals, of the family Mephitidae, native to North and Central America, having a glossy black with a white coat and two musk glands at the base of the tail for emitting a noxious smell as a defensive measure.
  • (slang) A despicable person.
  • (slang) A walkover victory in sports or board games, as when the opposing side is unable to score. Compare shutout.
  • (cribbage) A win by 30 or more points.
  • Derived terms
    * drunk as a skunk * skunky

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To defeat so badly as to prevent any opposing points.
  • I skunked him at cards.
    We fished all day but the lake skunked us.
  • (cribbage) To win by 30 or more points.
  • to go bad, to spoil
  • See also

    * Mephitidae * Mephitis * * * polecat

    Etymology 2

    , influenced by the animal (Etymology 1).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A member of a hybrid skinhead and punk subculture.
  • * 2006 , Pam Nilan, Carles Feixa, Global Youth?: Hybrid Identities, Plural Worlds (page 192)
  • In the early 1980s, certain ex-punks joined them, becoming 'skunks' – a hybrid subculture of skinheads and punks.
  • * 2011 , Gerard DeGroot (quoting Brown), Seventies Unplugged
  • Etymology 3

    From

    Noun

  • (slang) (marijuana).
  • Any of the strains of hybrids of Cannabis sativa'' and ''Cannabis indica that may have THC levels exceeding those of typical hashish.
  • ----

    musk

    English

    (wikipedia musk)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A greasy secretion with a powerful odour, produced in a glandular sac of the male musk deer and used in the manufacture of perfumes.
  • A similar secretion produced by the otter and the civet.
  • A synthetic organic compound used as a substitute for the above.
  • The odour of musk.
  • The musk deer.
  • The (musk plant) ().
  • A plant of the genus ); the (musky heronsbill).
  • A plant of the genus Muscari ; grape hyacinth.
  • (slang, colloquial, vulgar) The scent of human genitalia when aroused or unwashed, especially that of a man.
  • I was so excited I could smell my own musk .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To perfume with musk.
  • English terms derived from Sanskrit