1.
[syn: black caraway, nutmeg flower, Roman coriander, Nigella sativa]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
American nutmeg, Calabash nutmeg, 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, a 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 lauraceous 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 (Zool.), 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 (Zool.), 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).
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Cumin \Cum"in\ (k?m"?n), n. [OE.comin, AS. cymen, fr. L.
cuminum, Gr. ???????; of Semitic origin, cf. Ar. kamm?n, Heb.
kamm?n; cf. OF. comin, F. cumin. Cf. Kummel.] (Bot.)
A dwarf umbelliferous plant, somewhat resembling fennel
(Cuminum Cyminum), cultivated for its seeds, which have a
bitterish, warm taste, with an aromatic flavor, and are used
like those of anise and caraway. [Written also cummin.]
[1913 Webster]
Rank-smelling rue, and cumin good for eyes. --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
Black cumin (Bot.), a plant (Nigella sativa) with pungent
seeds, used by the Afghans, etc.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Fennel \Fen"nel\ (f[e^]n"n[e^]l), n. [AS. fenol, finol, from L.
feniculum, faeniculum, dim. of fenum, faenum, hay: cf. F.
fenouil. Cf. Fenugreek. Finochio.] (Bot.)
A perennial plant of the genus F[ae]niculum (F[ae]niculum
vulgare), having very finely divided leaves. It is
cultivated in gardens for the agreeable aromatic flavor of
its seeds.
[1913 Webster]
Smell of sweetest fennel. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
A sprig of fennel was in fact the theological smelling
bottle of the tender sex. --S. G.
Goodrich.
[1913 Webster]
Azorean fennel, or Sweet fennel, (F[ae]niculum dulce).
It is a smaller and stouter plant than the common fennel,
and is used as a pot herb.
Dog's fennel (Anthemis Cotula), a foul-smelling European
weed; -- called also mayweed.
Fennel flower (Bot.), an herb (Nigella) of the Buttercup
family, having leaves finely divided, like those of the
fennel. Nigella Damascena is common in gardens. Nigella
sativa furnishes the fennel seed, used as a condiment,
etc., in India. These seeds are the "fitches" mentioned in
Isaiah (xxviii. 25).
Fennel water (Med.), the distilled water of fennel seed. It
is stimulant and carminative.
Giant fennel (Ferula communis), has stems full of pith,
which, it is said, were used to carry fire, first, by
Prometheus.
Hog's fennel, a European plant (Peucedanum officinale)
looking something like fennel.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Fitch \Fitch\ (?; 224), n.; pl. Fitches. [See Vetch.]
1. (Bot.) A vetch. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
2. pl. (Bot.) A word found in the Authorized Version of the
Bible, representing different Hebrew originals. In Isaiah
xxviii. 25, 27, it means the black aromatic seeds of
Nigella sativa, still used as a flavoring in the East.
In Ezekiel iv. 9, the Revised Version now reads spelt.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Nigella sativa
n 1: herb of the Mediterranean region having pungent seeds used
like those of caraway [syn: black caraway, nutmeg
flower, Roman coriander, Nigella sativa]