What does civet mean?
A civet is a slender, cat-like mammal belonging to the family Viverridae, native to the tropical forests of Africa and Asia. Despite its feline appearance, the civet is more closely related to mongooses, and most species are nocturnal, solitary, and omnivorous, feeding on fruit, insects, and small animals. The word also denotes the potent musky secretion produced by the animal's perineal glands, which was once one of the most valuable ingredients in perfumery, valued for fixing and deepening fragrance. In recent decades, civets have gained unexpected fame through kopi luwak, so-called civet coffee, made from coffee cherries eaten and excreted by Asian palm civets and sold at extraordinary prices. Whether describing the animal itself, its historical role in perfumes, or its unlikely starring role in luxury coffee, "civet" is a word that connects natural history, commerce, and curiosity in a single compact term.
A slender, nocturnal, cat-like mammal of the family Viverridae, native to Africa and Asia, especially the African civet (Civettictis civetta).
"An African civet crossed the dirt road ahead of our jeep, its black-and-white coat stark in the headlights."
Often appears in the compound "civet cat," which can refer to the true civets or, loosely, to the North American spotted skunk.
The thick, musky yellowish secretion of the civet's perineal glands, used historically as a fixative in perfumery.
"The old perfumery still kept a small vial of genuine civet among its treasures."
Regular plural; applies to both the animal sense and, less commonly, to quantities of the musk.
"Palm civets are often seen near villages, drawn by fruit trees and chickens."
The world's most expensive coffee gets its start inside a civet's digestive tract — and yes, it really sells for hundreds of dollars a pound.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of civet
English borrowed "civet" in the sixteenth century from French "civette," which traces through Italian "zibetto" back to Arabic "zabād," meaning the frothy musk of the animal. The underlying sense of the Arabic word relates to foam or froth, describing the appearance of the secretion. The rare variant "zibeth" entered English by the same route, preserving an even closer echo of the Arabic original.
How civet is actually used
In modern usage, "civet" most often refers to the animal, frequently appearing in compounds like "civet cat." The perfume sense is now largely historical or specialist, as natural civet has been widely replaced by synthetic alternatives. The term carries no strong emotional connotation, though "civet coffee" has given the word a gourmet association.