# musk

> English word · Noun · IPA /mʌsk/ · frequency rank #15,223

## Definitions
1. A greasy secretion with a powerful odour, produced in a glandular sac of the male musk deer and used in the manufacture of perfumes.
2. A similar secretion produced by the otter and the civet.
3. A synthetic organic compound used as a substitute for the above.
4. The odour of musk.
5. A musk deer (genus Moschus).
6. A muskflower (Erythranthe moschata).
7. A plant of the genus Erodium (Erodium moschatum); the musky heronsbill.
8. A plant of the genus Muscari; grape hyacinth.
9. The scent of human genitalia when aroused or unwashed.

## Etymology
From Middle English muske, borrowed from Old French musc, from Late Latin muscus, from Ancient Greek μόσχος (móskhos), from Middle Persian [script needed] (mwšk' /⁠muʃk⁠/) whence Persian مشک (mošk). Ultimately from Sanskrit मुष्क (muṣka, “testicle”), the shape of the gland of animals secreting the substance being compared to human testicles, a diminutive of मूष् (mūṣ, “mouse”), the shape of human testicles being compared to mice, from Proto-Indo-European *muh₂s (“mouse”). Cognate with mouse.

## Easily confused with
- **must** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/musk-vs-must)
- **mute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/musk-vs-mute)
- **mutt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/musk-vs-mutt)
- **musty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/musk-vs-musty)
- **musket** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/musk-vs-musket)
- **MS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ms-vs-musk)
- **mu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mu-vs-musk)
- **MK** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mk-vs-musk)
- **Mrs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mrs-vs-musk)
- **mum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mum-vs-musk)
- **MPS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mps-vs-musk)
- **MUD** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mud-vs-musk)
- **mug** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mug-vs-musk)
- **MoS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mos-vs-musk)
- **MSM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/msm-vs-musk)
- **MSG** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/msg-vs-musk)
- **mak** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mak-vs-musk)
- **MSP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/msp-vs-musk)
- **mun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mun-vs-musk)
- **mes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mes-vs-musk)

## Common misspellings (6)
`mmusk`, `msuk`, `muks`, `muskk`, `mussk`, `umsk`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/musk