mephitis

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

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}, {mephitis}]
    3: in some classifications: type genus of the subfamily
       Mephitinae [syn: {Mephitis}, {genus Mephitis}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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]

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