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

The bar's creative cocktails include the Snowball Old-Fashioned, a blend of rye whiskey, gingerbread and aromatic bitters, and the Hot Buttered Rum, a warming concoction made with aged Jamaican rum, oat milk, nutmeg, velvet falernum and mixed spiced butter. —Taryn White, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

Garnish: 2 cups (12 ounces) fresh berries 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg Optional garnish: Edible pesticide-free flowers DIRECTIONS 1. —Cathy Thomas, Orange County Register, 25 Nov. 2024

One recipe in this cookbook was for a pumpkin pudding made with nutmeg and allspice and served in a crust. —Emily Williams, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Nov. 2024

Warm spices of nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, and cardamom are natural partners to sweet potatoes. —Dale Gray, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 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

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

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