1. American musteline mammal typically ejecting an intensely malodorous fluid when startled; in some classifications put in a separate subfamily Mephitinae
   "The campers quickly learned to avoid startling the wood pussy, also known as a skunk"; "The campers quickly learned to avoid startling the wood pussy, also known as a polecat";
   - skunk, polecat [N. Amer]

Derived forms: wood pussies

Type of: mustelid, musteline, musteline mammal

Encyclopedia: Wood pussy