Mephitis mephitica

Skunk Skunk, n. [Contr. from the Abenaki (American Indian) seganku.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of American musteline carnivores of the genus {Mephitis} and allied genera. They have two glands near the anus, secreting an extremely fetid liquid, which the animal ejects at pleasure as a means of defense. [1913 Webster]

Note: The common species of the Eastern United States ({Mephitis mephitica}) is black with more or less white on the body and tail. The spotted skunk ({Spilogale putorius}), native of the Southwestern United States and Mexico, is smaller than the common skunk, and is variously marked with black and white. [1913 Webster]

{Skunk bird}, {Skunk blackbird} (Zo["o]l.), the bobolink; -- so called because the male, in the breeding season, is black and white, like a skunk.

{Skunk cabbage} (Bot.), an American aroid herb ({Symplocarpus f[oe]tidus}) having a reddish hornlike spathe in earliest spring, followed by a cluster of large cabbagelike leaves. It exhales a disagreeable odor. Also called {swamp cabbage}.

{Skunk porpoise}. (Zo["o]l.) See under {Porpoise}. [1913 Webster]