Etymology : Middle French, from Old Provençal, from muscat musky, from musc musk, from Late Latin muscus; more at MUSK
Pronunciation : 'm&s-"kat, -k&t
Function : noun
Date : 1548
1. seaport and capital city of Oman. variety of sweet flavored grapes which are used to make wine; sweet wine made from muscat grapes. muscat\mus"cat\ , n. [f. see:
muscadel.] (bot.) a name given to several varieties of old world grapes, differing in color, size, etc., but all having a somewhat musky flavor. the muscat of alexandria is a large oval grape of a pale amber color. [written also muskat.]muscat n.
2. any of several cultivated grapevines that produce sweet white grapes [syn: muskat].
3. a port on the gulf of oman and capital of the sultanate of oman [syn: muscat, masqat, capital of oman].
4. wine from muscat grapes [syn: muscatel, muscadel, muscadelle].
5. sweet aromatic grape used for raisins and wine [syn: muscatel, muscat grape].
6. A name given to several varieties of Old World grapes, differing in color, size, etc., but all having a somewhat musky flavor.
7. The muscat of Alexandria is a large oval grape of a pale amber color. sweet aromatic grape used for raisins and wine wine from muscat grapes a port on the Gulf of Oman and capital of the sultanate of Oman any of several cultivated grapevines that produce sweet white grapes.
8. the capital city of Oman. or Masqat City (pop., 1993: city, 40,900; 1999 est.: metro. area, 887,000), capital of Oman, located on the Gulf of Oman. Situated on a cove surrounded by volcanic mountains, it came under Persian control in the 6th century BC, and the people of the region were converted to Islam in the 7th century AD. The Portuguese gained control in 1508 and made Muscat their Arabian headquarters (1622-48). Held again by the Persians (1650-1741), it later became part of the sultanate of Oman. Two 16th-century Portuguese forts overlook the town; the sultan's Indian-style palace is built at the edge of the sea.