civet
pronunciation
How to pronounce civet in British English:
UK [ˈsɪvɪt]
How to pronounce civet in American English:
US [ˈsɪvɪt]
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- Noun:
- catlike mammal typically secreting musk used in perfumes
Word Origin
- civet (n.)
- 1530s, from Middle French civette (15c.), ultimately (with Italian zibetto, Medieval Latin zibethum, Medieval Greek zapetion) via lost intermediate forms from Arabic zabad "civet," said to be related to zabad "foam, froth," zubd "cream."
Example
- 1. As a result , there is a growing market in fake civet beans .
- 2. Studying the ecology of carnivores in the rainforest , he thinks like a desperate civet running out of territory .
- 3. For the civet cats and their famous brew , the prospects were once more encouraging .
- 4. Other critics have challenged chon coffee on ethical grounds , alleging that many civet cats are treated inhumanely by their owners .
- 5. Larger coffee chains , however , produce a more sophisticated beverage using biotechnology , isolating an enzyme similar to that in the civet 's stomach that ferments the beans , and then mixing it with chocolate powder to add authenticity to its aroma .