Nutmeg

Nutmeg
Nutmeg Nut"meg, n. [OE. notemuge; note nut + OF. muge musk, of the same origin as E. musk; cf. OF. noix muguette nutmeg, F. noix muscade. See {Nut}, and {Musk}.] (Bot.) The kernel of the fruit of the nutmeg tree ({Myristica fragrans}), a native of the Molucca Islands, but cultivated elsewhere in the tropics. [1913 Webster]

Note: This fruit is a nearly spherical drupe, of the size of a pear, of a yellowish color without and almost white within. This opens into two nearly equal longitudinal valves, inclosing the nut surrounded by its aril, which is mace. The nutmeg is an aromatic, very grateful to the taste and smell, and much used in cookery. Other species of {Myristica} yield nutmegs of inferior quality. [1913 Webster]

{American nutmeg}, {Calabash nutmeg}, or {Jamaica nutmeg}, the fruit of a tropical shrub ({Monodora Myristica}). It is about the size of an orange, and contains many aromatic seeds imbedded in pulp.

{Brazilian nutmeg}, the fruit of a lauraceous tree, {Cryptocarya moschata}.

{California nutmeg}, a tree of the Yew family ({Torreya Californica}), growing in the Western United States, and having a seed which resembles a nutmeg in appearance, but is strongly impregnated with turpentine.

{Clove nutmeg}, the {Ravensara aromatica}, a lauraceous tree of Madagascar. The foliage is used as a spice, but the seed is acrid and caustic.

{Jamaica nutmeg}. See American nutmeg (above).

{Nutmeg bird} (Zo["o]l.), an Indian finch ({Munia punctularia}).

{Nutmeg butter}, a solid oil extracted from the nutmeg by expression.

{Nutmeg flower} (Bot.), a ranunculaceous herb ({Nigella sativa}) with small black aromatic seeds, which are used medicinally and for excluding moths from furs and clothing.

{Nutmeg liver} (Med.), a name applied to the liver, when, as the result of heart or lung disease, it undergoes congestion and pigmentation about the central veins of its lobules, giving it an appearance resembling that of a nutmeg.

{Nutmeg melon} (Bot.), a small variety of muskmelon of a rich flavor.

{Nutmeg pigeon} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of pigeons of the genus {Myristicivora}, native of the East Indies and Australia. The color is usually white, or cream-white, with black on the wings and tail.

{Nutmeg wood} (Bot.), the wood of the Palmyra palm.

{Peruvian nutmeg}, the aromatic seed of a South American tree ({Laurelia sempervirens}).

{Plume nutmeg} (Bot.), a spicy tree of Australia ({Atherosperma moschata}). [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • nutmeg — (n.) hard aromatic seed of the East Indies, c.1300, from O.N.Fr. or Anglo Fr. *noiz mugue, from O.Fr. nois muguete, unexplained alteration of nois muscade nut smelling like musk, from nois nut (from L. nux) + L. muscada, fem. of muscat musky (see …   Etymology dictionary

  • nutmeg — [nut′meg΄] n. [ME notemygge, partial transl. of OFr nois muguete < Prov noiz muscade, lit., musky nut < L nux, NUT + LL muscus, MUSK] 1. the hard, aromatic seed of an East Indian tree (Myristica fragrans) of the nutmeg family: it is grated… …   English World dictionary

  • nutmeg — ► NOUN ▪ a spice made from the seed of a tropical tree native to the Moluccas. ORIGIN partial translation of Old French nois muguede musky nut …   English terms dictionary

  • Nutmeg — For other uses, see Nutmeg (disambiguation). Nutmeg Myristica fragrans Scientific classification Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • nutmeg — nutmegged, adj. /nut meg/, n. 1. the hard, aromatic seed of the fruit of an East Indian tree, Myristica fragrans, used in grated form as a spice. 2. the similar product of certain other trees of the same genus or other genera. 3. a tree bearing… …   Universalium

  • nutmeg — noun Etymology: Middle English notemigge, notemuge, ultimately from Old Occitan noz muscada, from noz nut (from Latin nuc , nux) + muscada, feminine of muscat musky more at muscat Date: 15th century 1. an aromatic seed produced by an evergreen… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • nutmeg — 1. noun /ˈnʌtmɛɡ/ a) an evergreen tree, Myristica fragrans, cultivated in the East Indies for its spicy seeds b) the aromatic seed of this tree, used as a spice 2. verb …   Wiktionary

  • nutmeg — [[t]nʌ̱tmeg[/t]] N UNCOUNT Nutmeg is a spice made from the seed of a tree that grows in hot countries. Nutmeg is usually used to flavour sweet food …   English dictionary

  • nutmeg — UK [ˈnʌtmeɡ] / US [ˈnʌtˌmeɡ] noun [countable/uncountable] Word forms nutmeg : singular nutmeg plural nutmegs a brown powder used as a spice to give flavour to food. It comes from the hard seed of a tropical tree …   English dictionary

  • nutmeg — nut•meg [[t]ˈnʌt mɛg[/t]] n. 1) pln the hard, aromatic seed of an East Indian tree, Myristica fragrans, of the nutmeg family, used in grated form as a spice 2) pln a similar seed of certain related trees 3) pln a tree bearing the nutmeg seed •… …   From formal English to slang

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”