Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Same as castor.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A peculiar bitter orange-brown substance, with strong, penetrating odor, found in two sacs between the anus and external genitals of the beaver; castor; -- used in medicine as an antispasmodic, and by perfumers.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The bitter exudate from the castor sacs of mature beavers

Etymologies

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Examples

  • The scent is leathery and animalic think both indolic and uric at once, and with that dry leathery undertone – hence it is most commonly described as a cross between civet and castoreum, which is a pretty good description if you ask me.

    Incarnations of Carnation: Exploring the Layers of a Flower Ayala Sender 2008

  • The scent is leathery and animalic think both indolic and uric at once, and with that dry leathery undertone – hence it is most commonly described as a cross between civet and castoreum, which is a pretty good description if you ask me.

    Archive 2008-02-01 Ayala Sender 2008

  • It was not, however, till of late years that the sagacious Indians discovered that the castoreum was a certain bait for the animals themselves.

    The Western World Picturesque Sketches of Nature and Natural History in North and South America William Henry Giles Kingston 1847

  • They are seen near these dams and at their "lodges" on the banks of the stream, where they ooze out this castoreum, which is understood to be a signal to other beavers.

    A Narrative of Colonel Robert Campbell's Experiences in the Rocky Mountain Fur Trade from 1825 to 1835. 1835

  • Take the innocuous-sounding castoreum, which is used to enhance the flavor of puddings, candies, and some frozen dairy desserts.

    The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com Maria Rodale 2012

  • The peculiar odoriferous substance, secreted in two glandular sacs near the root of the tail, is "castoreum," more generally known as

    The Life of Kit Carson Hunter, Trapper, Guide, Indian Agent and Colonel U.S.A. Edward Sylvester Ellis 1878

  • Up to the moment when the wolves reached the top of this ascent they had travelled altogether by the strong scent of the castoreum which is found in the body of the beaver, and which had most thoroughly perfumed the whole party, dogs, men, and outfit.

    Winter Adventures of Three Boys Egerton R. Young 1874

  • Another curious circumstance connected with this "castoreum" is, that as soon as one beaver has deposited any of it on the ground, the beavers from another lodge go to the spot, and after covering it with earth and leaves, deposit their own "castoreum" on it.

    Afar in the Forest William Henry Giles Kingston 1847

  • The early key target of trappers was the beaver, a source of food, castoreum

    The Riches Came Pelting Down Michael Taube 2010

  • The two lines run through the composition, sometimes parallel, sometimes intertwining, with the second one eventually taking over and ultimately finding its closure in a lush, animalic, fantastically sexy, nocturnal base of amber, musk, civet, patchouli and castoreum.

    Forgotten Chypres: 7e Sense by Sonya Rykiel and Gianni Versace Marina Geigert 2009

Comments

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  • There is a term for every thing.

    November 27, 2010

  • Eeeew!

    November 28, 2010

  • See barkstone.

    January 21, 2011

  • also, disgustingly, one of the "natural flavors" of food ingredient listings. Used to impart a "vanilla" flavor to puddings, candies, etc.

    January 21, 2013

  • Reminds me of how civet is used in perfumery and in the coffee industry. Hey--if civets bring us regular kopi luwak, I wonder whether beavers could provide vanilla-flavored coffees. Are there any animal anal glands that have a hazelnut aroma?

    January 21, 2013

  • Usage/historical note on ambergris.

    October 9, 2017