ABELMOSK

A'BELMOSK, noun A trivial name of a species of hibiscus, or Syrian mallow. The plant rises on a herbacceous stalk, three or four feet, sending out two or three side branches. The seeds have a musky odor, for which reason the Arabians mix them with coffee.

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A″bel‐mosk′ (�), n. [[NL. abelmoschus, fr. Ar. abu-l-misk father of musk, i.e., producing musk. See Musk.]] (Bot.) An evergreen shrub (Hibiscus — formerly Abelmoschus — moschatus), of the East and West Indies and Northern Africa, whose musky seeds are used in perfumery and to flavor coffee; — sometimes called musk mallow.