mephitis

Etymology
From, , from the name of a Samnite goddess who personified the poisonous gases emitted from swamps and volcanoes.

Noun

 * 1) A poisonous or foul-smelling gas, especially as emitted from the earth; an unpleasant.
 * 2)  A dilution of fluids derived from skunks or polecats.
 * 1)  A dilution of fluids derived from skunks or polecats.
 * 1)  A dilution of fluids derived from skunks or polecats.
 * 1)  A dilution of fluids derived from skunks or polecats.
 * 1)  A dilution of fluids derived from skunks or polecats.

Etymology
From, the name of a Samnite goddess who personified or averted the poisonous gases emitted from swamps and volcanoes. The name is from and ultimately, as in "one who is in the middle," the sense being that Mephitis encompasses earthly ideas between the subterranean and terrestrial worlds.

Noun

 * 1) mephitis a poisonous or pestilential gas from the ground, e.g. from swamps or volcanoes