Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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
