4. (Bot.) (a) The musk plant (Mimulus moschatus). (b) A plant of the
genus Erodium (E. moschatum); -- called also musky heron's-bill. (c) A
plant of the genus Muscari; grape hyacinth.
Musk beaver (Zoöl.), muskrat (1). -- Musk beetle (Zoöl.), a European
longicorn beetle (Aromia moschata), having an agreeable odor resembling
that of attar of roses. -- Musk cat. See Bondar. -- Musk cattle
(Zoöl.), musk oxen. See Musk ox (below). -- Musk deer (Zoöl.), a small
hornless deer (Moschus moschiferus), which inhabits the elevated parts
of Central Asia. The upper canine teeth of the male are developed into
sharp tusks, curved downward. The male has scent bags on the belly,
from which the musk of commerce is derived. The deer is yellow or
red-brown above, whitish below. The pygmy musk deer are chevrotains, as
the kanchil and napu. -- Musk duck. (Zoöl.) (a) The Muscovy duck. (b)
An Australian duck (Biziura lobata). -- Musk lorikeet (Zoöl.), the
Pacific lorikeet (Glossopsitta australis) of Australia. -- Musk mallow
(Bot.), a name of two malvaceous plants: (a) A species of mallow (Malva
moschata), the foliage of which has a faint musky smell. (b) An Asiatic
shrub. See Abelmosk. - - Musk orchis (Bot.), a European plant of the
Orchis family (Herminium Minorchis); -- so called from its peculiar
scent. -- Musk ox (Zoöl.), an Arctic hollow-horned ruminant (Ovibos
moschatus), now existing only in America, but found fossil in Europe
and Asia. It is covered with a thick coat of fine yellowish wool, and
with long dark hair, which is abundant and shaggy on the neck and
shoulders. The full-grown male weighs over four hundred pounds. -- Musk
parakeet. (Zoöl.) Same as Musk lorikeet (above). -- Musk pear (Bot.), a
fragrant kind of pear much resembling the Seckel pear. -- Musk plant
(Bot.), the Mimulus moschatus, a plant found in Western North America,
often cultivated, and having a strong musky odor. -- Musk root (Bot.),
the name of several roots with a strong odor, as that of the nard
(Nardostachys Jatamansi) and of a species of Angelica. -- Musk rose
(Bot.), a species of rose (Rosa moschata), having peculiarly fragrant
white blossoms. -- Musk seed (Bot.), the seed of a plant of the Mallow
family (Hibiscus moschatus), used in perfumery and in flavoring. See
Abelmosk. -- Musk sheep (Zoöl.), the musk ox. -- Musk shrew (Zoöl.), a
shrew (Sorex murinus), found in India. It has a powerful odor of musk.
Called also sondeli, and mondjourou. -- Musk thistle (Bot.), a species
of thistle (Carduus nutans), having fine large flowers, and leaves
smelling strongly of musk. -- Musk tortoise, Musk turtle (Zoöl.), a
small American fresh- water tortoise (Armochelys, or Ozotheca,
odorata), which has a distinct odor of musk; -- called also stinkpot.
<! p. 957 !>
Musk (msk), v. t. To perfume with musk.
Mus"ka*del` (ms"k*dl`), n. See Muscadel.
Mus"kat (ms"kt), n. See Muscat.
Mus"kel*lunge (?), n. [From the Amer. Indian name.] (Zoöl.) A large
American pike (Esox nobilior) found in the Great Lakes, and other
Northern lakes, and in the St. Lawrence River. It is valued as a food
fish. [Written also maskallonge, maskinonge, muskallonge, muskellonge,
and muskelunjeh.]
Mus"ket (?), n. [F. mousquet, It. moschetto, formerly, a kind of hawk;
cf. OF. mousket, moschet, a kind of hawk falcon, F. mouchet, prop., a
little fly (the hawk prob. being named from its size), fr. L. musca a
fly. Cf. Mosquito.] [Sometimes written also musquet.] 1. (Zoöl.) The
male of the sparrow hawk.
2. A species of firearm formerly carried by the infantry of an army. It
was originally fired by means of a match, or matchlock, for which
several mechanical appliances (including the flintlock, and finally the
percussion lock) were successively substituted. This arm has been
generally superseded by the rifle.
Mus`ket*eer" (?), n. [F. mousquetaire; cf. It. moschettiere.] A soldier
armed with a musket.
Mus*ke"to (?), n. See Mosquito.
Mus`ket*oon" (?), n. [F. mousqueton; cf. It. moschettone.] 1. A short
musket.