NUTMEG
nutmeg
(noun) hard aromatic seed of the nutmeg tree used as spice when grated or ground
nutmeg, nutmeg tree, Myristica fragrans
(noun) East Indian tree widely cultivated in the tropics for its aromatic seed; source of two spices: nutmeg and mace
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
nutmeg (countable and uncountable, plural nutmegs)
An evergreen tree (Myristica fragrans) cultivated in the East Indies for its spicy seeds.
The aromatic seed of this tree, used as a spice.
A grey-brown colour.
(football) The playing of the ball between the legs of an opponent.
Verb
nutmeg (third-person singular simple present nutmegs, present participle nutmegging, simple past and past participle nutmegged)
(transitive) To flavour with nutmeg.
(soccer, transitive) To play the ball between the legs of (an opponent).
Source: Wiktionary
Nut"meg, n. Etym: [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.)
Definition: The kernel of the fruit of the nutmeg tree (Myristica
fragrans), a native of the Molucca Islands, but cultivated elsewhere
in the tropics.
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. American, Calabash, 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, 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 laura ceous 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 (Zoƶl.), 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 (Zoƶl.), 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).
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition