{ } a. [ L. mephiticus, fr. mephitis mephitis: cf. F. méphitique. ] 1. Tending to destroy life; poisonous; noxious; as, mephitic exhalations; mephitic regions. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Offensive to the smell; as, mephitic odors. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mephitic air (Chem.), carbon dioxide; -- so called because of its deadly suffocating power. See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. A subfamily of mammals including the skunks; it is a subdivision not used in some classifications.
Syn. -- subfamily Mephitinae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ L. mephitis : cf. F. méphitis. ] 1. Noxious, pestilential, or foul exhalations from decomposing substances, filth, or other source. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A genus of mammals, including the skunks. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Mephitis, 1. [ 1913 Webster ]