Etymology Explorer › Old French

Where does “musc” come from?

musc (Old French) comes from Latin mūscus, from Ancient Greek μόσχος, from Middle Persian mwšk', from Sanskrit मुष्क, from Sanskrit मूष्, from Proto-Indo-European múh₂s — mouse.

Ancestry of “musc”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinmūscus—
2Ancient Greekμόσχοςyoung shoot or twig; leafstalk, petiole; calf,...
3Middle Persianmwšk'musk
4Sanskritमुष्कtesticle, scrotum
5Sanskritमूष्mouse; "stealer", "thief"
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmúh₂smouse

Words derived from “musc”

  • musk
  • musky
  • muskmelon
  • muskiness
  • muskroot
  • muskwood
  • muskily
  • musk duck
  • musc
  • muske
  • musk
Every word from Proto-Indo-European múh₂s →