any of various small civet-like arboreal viverrine mammals of the genera Paradoxurus, Hemigalus, etc, of Africa and S and SE Asia
Also called: musang, toddy cat
palm civet in American English
noun
any of various small to medium-sized, chiefly arboreal cats of the civet family, of southeastern Asia, the East Indies, etc., with a spotted or striped coat and a long curled tail
Also called: palm cat
Word origin
[1840–50]This word is first recorded in the period 1840–50. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: colloid, flan, layout, plaque, warmup