Mephitis

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Mephitis \Me*phi"tis\, n. [L. mephitis : cf. F. m['e]phitis.]
     1. Noxious, pestilential, or foul exhalations from
        decomposing substances, filth, or other source.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) A genus of mammals, including the skunks.


        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  mephitis
       n 1: a poisonous or foul smelling gas emitted from the earth
       2: a distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant [syn: {malodor},
           {malodour}, {stench}, {stink}, {reek}, {fetor}, {foetor}]
       3: in some classifications: type genus of the subfamily
          Mephitinae [syn: {genus Mephitis}]