English
musk
Musk comes from Old French musc, from Late Latin muscus ‘musk deer’, and ultimately from Ancient Greek μόσχος.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEμόσχοςmóskhos
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEmuscus‘musk deer’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400musc
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500muske
- Englishearliest quotation 1607musk
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history not traced here.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEμόσχοςmóskhos
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEmuscus‘musk deer’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400musc
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500muske
- Englishearliest quotation 1607musk
Earliest quotation: 1607, attributed to Thomas Tomkis, Lingva: Or The Combat of the Tongue: “Your onely way to make a good pomander, is…”
Linked words
through Ancient Greek μόσχος
through Late Latin muscus ‘musk deer’
Today it means
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.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek μόσχος / musk