What does musky mean?
Musky means having a strong odor associated with musk, an oily substance with a powerful animal-like smell formerly obtained from the musk deer. In contemporary English, the word most often describes a heavy bodily odor, an unpleasant smell in enclosed spaces, or a dense, distinctive fragrance. Its tone is usually neutral to disapproving: “musky armpits” suggests an offensive body odor, while “musky perfume” can suggest an intense, deliberately old-fashioned scent. Musky should not be confused with musty, which refers more specifically to stale, damp, or poorly ventilated conditions. The adjective is useful because it identifies a particular kind of strong, animal-like odor rather than merely saying that something smells unpleasant.
adjectiveHaving a strong smell resembling musk, especially a heavy, animal-like or bodily odor.
- Having a strong smell resembling musk, especially a heavy, animal-like or bodily odor.
"The warm day gave the linen an unpleasant musky odor."
"A musky breeze drifted through the open window."
"The old cushions had developed a distinctly musky smell."
Musky gets its name from musk, the pungent secretion historically prized in perfume and taken from the musk deer.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does musky come from?
Musky was formed in English from musk with the suffix -y. Musk came through Old French from Latin muscus, the name of a strongly scented secretion used in medicine and perfumery. The word therefore preserves the long-standing association between musk and a powerful, penetrating odor.
Related word forms
How musky is actually used
The term is commonly used for an intense body or animal odor and is often mildly disapproving, though it can also describe a deliberately heavy, distinctive fragrance.
Easily confused with musky
Musky describes a strong, heavy, animal-like or bodily odor, whereas musty specifically suggests staleness, dampness, or the smell of an enclosed space.