nutmeg

[ nuht-meg ]

noun

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 such seeds.

nutmeg

/ ˈnʌtmɛɡ /

noun

1. an East Indian evergreen tree, Myristica fragrans, cultivated in the tropics for its hard aromatic seed: family Myristicaceae See also mace 2
2. the seed of this tree, used as a spice
3. any of several similar trees or their fruit
4. a greyish-brown colour

verb

1. informal.
   sport to kick or hit the ball between the legs of (an opposing player)

Other Words From

• nutmegged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nutmeg¹

1300–50; Middle English notemug ( g ) e, perhaps back formation from *notemugede ( -ede being taken as -ed ³ ), equivalent to note nut + mugede < Old French < Late Latin muscāta musky; musk, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of nutmeg¹

C13: from Old French nois muguede, from Old Provençal noz muscada musk-scented nut, from Latin nux nut + muscus musk

Example Sentences

“I always loved warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and cloves,” Hutchings wrote.

From Salon

They were mixed with the go-to expensive spices of the day: cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, cloves, ginger and sugar.

From Salon

Timothy Sharp, manager of Sparrow Coffee House in Cardiff, makes his own homemade syrup, adding spices like cloves, cardamom and star anise to the core PSL ingredients of ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg.

From BBC

It is not what you expect from an apple dessert, as there is no cinnamon, nutmeg, or other warming spice to give it that quintessential autumn flavor.

From Salon

I spotted one man tucking a handful of nutmeg into his pocket, just as Samir described the climactic troll feast.

From Literature

Related Words

• cantaloupe
• gourd
• papaya
• watermelon