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 Molucca Islands, but cultivated
elsewhere in the tropics.
Note: This fruit is a nearly spherical drupe, of the size of
a pear, of a yellowish color without and almost white
within. This opens into two nearly equal longitudinal
valves, inclosing the nut surrounded by its aril, which
is mace The nutmeg is an aromatic, very grateful to the
taste and smell, and much used in cookery. Other
species of Myristica yield nutmegs of inferior
quality.
American, Calabash, or Jamaica, nutmeg, the fruit of
a tropical shrub (Monodora Myristica). It is about the
size of an orange, and contains many aromatic seeds
imbedded in pulp.
Brazilian nutmeg, the fruit of a lauraceous tree,
Cryptocarya moschata.
California nutmeg, tree of the Yew family (Torreya
Californica), growing in the Western United States, and
having a seed which resembles a nutmeg in appearance, but
is strongly impregnated with turpentine.
Clove nutmeg, the Ravensara aromatica, a laura ceous tree
of Madagascar. The foliage is used as a spice, but the
seed is acrid and caustic.
Jamaica nutmeg. See American nutmeg (above).
Nutmeg bird (Zo["o]l.), an Indian finch (Munia
punctularia).
Nutmeg butter, a solid oil extracted from the nutmeg by
expression.
Nutmeg flower (Bot.), a ranunculaceous herb (Nigella
sativa) with small black aromatic seeds, which are used
medicinally and for excluding moths from furs and
clothing.
Nutmeg liver (Med.), a name applied to the liver, when, as
the result of heart or lung disease, it undergoes
congestion and pigmentation about the central veins of its
lobules, giving it an appearance resembling that of a
nutmeg.
Nutmeg melon (Bot.), a small variety of muskmelon of a rich
flavor.
Nutmeg pigeon (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of
pigeons of the genus Myristicivora, native of the East
Indies and Australia. The color is usually white, or
cream-white, with black on the wings and tail.
Nutmeg wood (Bot.), the wood of the Palmyra palm.
Peruvian nutmeg, the aromatic seed of a South American tree
(Laurelia sempervirens).
Plume nutmeg (Bot.), a spicy tree of Australia
(Atherosperma moschata).
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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