muskeljaatkat, noun

Forms:
misselyat-kat, muskaliat katShow more Also misselyat-kat, muskaliat kat, muskejaatkat, muskiliat-cat.
Origin:
South African Dutch, DutchShow more South African Dutch, from Dutch muskuskat, muskus musk + kat cat.
musk cat.
1821 C.I. Latrobe Jrnl of Visit 426A trap having been set in a ravine, to catch mongooses, a muskiliat-cat was found in it...The skin was beautifully variegated with stripes and spots.
1835 A. Smith Diary (1940) II. 196The clear spotted Muskaliat Kat inhabits this country and skins of them are often seen patching the karosses of the natives.
1919 F.W. Fitzsimons Natural Hist. of S. Afr. II. 10Muskejaatkat, The Afrikaans and common name of the Spotted Genet. ‘It differs from the large-spotted Genet in having five rows of irregular black spots on each side of its body, and by the tip of its tail being white. Both species are popularly known as Misselyat-kats.’
1968 [see musk cat].
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18211919