| skunk | <zoology> Any one of several species of American musteline carnivores of the genus Mephitis and allied genera. They have two glands near the anus, secreting an extremely fetid liquid, which the animal ejects at pleasure as a means of defense. The common species of the Eastern United States (Mephitis mephitica) is black with more or less white on the body and tail. The spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius), native of the Southwestern United States and Mexico, is smaller than the common skunk, and is variously marked with black and white. <zoology> Skunk bird, Skunk blackbird, the bobolink; so called because the male, in the breeding season, is black and white, like a skunk. <botany> Skunk cabbage See Porpoise. Origin: Contr. From the Abenaki (American Indian) seganku. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
|---|---|
| skunkball | <zoology> The surf duck. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| skunkhead | <zoology> The surf duck. A duck (Camptolaimus Labradorus) which formerly inhabited the Atlantic coast of new England. It is now supposed to be extinct. Synonym: Labrador duck, and pied duck. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| skunks | Omnivorous new world mammals of the family mustelidae, showing typical warning colouration of patterned black and white and able to eject a malodorous secretion when the animal is startled or in danger. (12 Dec 1998) |
| skunktop | <zoology> The surf duck. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| skunkweed | <botany> Skunk cabbage. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |