civet
UK[ˈsɪvɪt]US[ˈsɪvɪt]
n
A small, nocturnal mammal native to tropical Asia and Africa, resembling a cat.
n
A strong musky perfume obtained from the scent glands of this animal.
Etymology
The word 'civet' entered English in the early 16th century from the French word 'civette'. This, in turn, was derived from the Italian 'zibetto', which came from the medieval Latin 'zibethum'. The ultimate origin is the Arabic word 'zabād', which referred to the aromatic substance produced by the animal. The word's journey from Arabic through Mediterranean trade languages into English reflects the history of the commodity itself—the valuable civet perfume—which was traded long before the animal was widely known in Europe. The term demonstrates a common pattern where the name for a product precedes and becomes the name for its source.
Analysis
The word 'civet' is a loanword adopted as a single, unsegmentable unit into English.
Examples
The civet is a solitary creature that is most active at night.
Traditional civet perfume, though rare and ethically problematic, was once highly prized.
Coffee beans digested and excreted by the Asian palm civet create a famously expensive brew.