mephitis

me·phi·tis  (m-fts)

n.

1. An offensive smell; a stench.

2. A poisonous or foul-smelling gas emitted from the earth.

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[Latin meftis, mephtis.]

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mephitis

a rank or foul smell, especially one rising from the earth, as from a swamp. — mephitic, mephitical, adj.

See also: Odors

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	mephitis - a poisonous or foul smelling gas emitted from the earth gas - a fluid in the gaseous state having neither independent shape nor volume and being able to expand indefinitely
	2.	mephitis - a distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant fetor, foetor, malodor, malodour, reek, stench, stink odour, olfactory perception, olfactory sensation, smell, odor - the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form; "she loved the smell of roses" niff, pong - an unpleasant smell
	3.	Mephitis - in some classifications: type genus of the subfamily Mephitinae genus Mephitis mammal genus - a genus of mammals family Mustelidae, Mustelidae - weasels; polecats; ferrets; minks; fishers; otters; badgers; skunks; wolverines; martens Mephitis mephitis, striped skunk - most common and widespread North American skunk hooded skunk, Mephitis macroura - of Mexico and southernmost parts of southwestern United States