The other day I smelled a skunk outside. It smelled so bad, and so strong!
Skunk
Skunks are North and South American mammals in the family Mephitidae. While related to polecats and other members of the weasel family, skunks have as their closest Old World relatives the stink badgers. The animals are known for their ability to spray a liquid with a strong, unpleasant smell. Different species of skunk vary in appearance from black-and-white to brown, cream or ginger colored, but all have warning coloration.
Etymology.
The word "skunk" is an Americanism from the 1630s, the
. It is made from strong hot coffee, sugar, dark rum (4 cl of 54 %vol) and whipped cream (to prevent the alcohol from evaporating, so that it could not be smelled). The pastor got the only cup without rum, but one day the cups got mixed up. When he discovered the deceit he exclaimed ""Ihr Pharisäer!"" ("You Pharisees!", connoting: "hypocrites"). Hence the name.
See also.
- Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater