civet cat

plural civet cats

1. Synonym of civet.

   Synonyms: civet

2. Synonym of ringtail (“Bassariscus astutus”).

   So far as they may now be distinguished, the Civet Cats belonging to the astuta group are characterized: […]

   1894 [1893], Samuel N. Rhoads, “Geographic Variation in Bassariscus Astutus, with Description of a New Subspecies”, in Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, page 416

   1 more example

   Another name for the ringtail is, though it is neither, civet cat, because when frightened ringtails exude a musky secretion from an anal gland.

   [2004, Bil Gilbert, Natural Coincidence: The Trip from Kalamazoo, University of Michigan Press, page 104

   Synonyms: ringtail