nutmeg

noun

nut·​meg ˈnət-ˌmeg 

-ˌmāg

1

: an aromatic seed produced by an evergreen tree (Myristica fragrans of the family Myristicaceae, the nutmeg family) native to the Moluccas

also : the ground seed used as a spice compare mace sense 2

2

: a tree yielding nutmeg

Did you know?

Nutmeg is native to the Moluccas, Indonesian islands in the Malay Archipelago of Southeast Asia. The word nutmeg, however, comes from Old Occitan, a Romance language spoken in southern France during the latter half of the Middle Ages. Old Occitan "noz muscada" combines "noz" ("nut"), from Latin nuc-, nux, with "muscada," a feminine form of muscat, meaning "musky." The history of "muscat" can in turn be traced back through Late Latin, Greek, and Middle Persian to a Sanskrit word meaning "mouse."

Examples of nutmeg in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Substitutions and Variations Feel free to serve with an additional dusting of cinnamon or freshly ground nutmeg. —Darcy Lenz, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2025

The finish is medium length, with lingering hints of nutmeg and dark chocolate. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

Sometimes, the darkness was a lingering memory, whether from a massacre decades ago in My Lai, Vietnam, or from a 17th-century genocide on an island in Indonesia, with the slaughter driven by a lust for nutmeg. —Bryant Rousseau, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2024

Serves 8 6 sweet potatoes, chopped 2 Idaho potatoes, chopped 1 cup brown sugar 2 ounces molasses 2 ounces Amaretto 1/4 cup butter, cubed 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg Salt and pepper to taste Preheat oven to 350 degrees. —Kathryn Gregory, The Courier-Journal, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

nutmeg

noun

nut·​meg ˈnət-ˌmeg 

: a spice that consists of the ground seeds of a small tropical evergreen tree grown especially in Indonesia

also : the seed or tree

Medical Definition

nutmeg

noun

nut·​meg ˈnət-ˌmeg, -ˌmāg 

1

: an aromatic seed that is used as a spice and is produced by a tree of the genus Myristica (M. fragrans of the family Myristicaceae, the nutmeg family) native to the Moluccas

called also myristica

2

: a tree that produces nutmegs