musky
musky Lexical Profile
musky Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Having a strong, heavy, earthy, and slightly sweet odor or taste resembling that of musk.
"The antique wooden chest released a rich, musky scent of cedar and dried lavender when opened."
• noun
North American An informal shortening of muskellunge, a large predatory freshwater fish of the pike family (Esox masquinongy) native to North American lakes and rivers, prized by anglers as a game fish.
"The angler spent all morning casting near the submerged logs hoping to hook a trophy musky."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'musky' (having a heavy, earthy, or perfumy scent) with 'musty' (having a stale, damp, or moldy odor).
• Rhymes for musky
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the 16th century from 'musk' plus the adjectival suffix '-y'; 'musk' itself entered Middle English via Old French and Late Latin from Persian 'mushk' and ultimately Sanskrit 'muska' (meaning 'testicle' or 'little mouse', in reference to the shape of the musk deer's scent gland).