nutmeg

noun

nut·​meg ˈnət-ˌmeg How to pronounce nutmeg (audio)
-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 In the Middle Ages, Europeans thought nutmeg could cure the plague. Greg McKenna, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2024 In Grenada, key crops like nutmeg, cocoa, and avocados were devastated, while Barbados lost hundreds of fishing vessels. Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024 Choose from 24 colors, including several fall shades like nutmeg, caramel, and ruby red. Gabriella Maestri, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2024 Spice it up: Other variations include adding orange zest or spices like nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger to the batter. Patricia S York, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for nutmeg 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nutmeg.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of nutmeg was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near nutmeg

Cite this Entry

“Nutmeg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nutmeg. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

nutmeg

noun
nut·​meg ˈnət-ˌmeg How to pronounce nutmeg (audio)
: 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
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

More from Merriam-Webster on nutmeg

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