skunkworks
/ˈskʌŋkwɜːks/plural noun
usu. treated as sing.
- US informal an experimental laboratory or department of a company or institution, typically smaller than and independent of its main research division〈美, 非正式〉（公司或机构的）研发重地, 臭鼬工厂（通常比主要研发部门小, 独立于主要研发部门之外）。
词源
1970s: allegedly from an association with the Skonk Works, an illegal still in the 'Li'l Abner' comic strip.