mephitis
/məˈfaɪ.tɪs/ noun
Forms mephitises
- noun A poisonous or foul-smelling gas, especially as emitted from the earth; an unpleasant smell.
- noun (homeopathy) A dilution of fluids derived from skunks or polecats.
Synonyms
malodour stench reek mephitism malodor stink fetor foetor genus Mephitis
Etymology
From Latin mefītis, mephītis, from the name of a Samnite goddess who personified the poisonous gases emitted from swamps and volcanoes.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Noxious, pestilential, or foul exhalations from decomposing substances, filth, or other source.
- noun A genus of mammals, including the skunks.
Etymology [L. mephitis : cf. F. méphitis.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “mephitis”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details