Nutmeg is a spice made from the seed of a tree that grows in hot countries. Nutmeg is usually used to flavour sweet food.
nutmeg in British English
(ˈnʌtmɛɡ)
noun
1.
an East Indian evergreen tree, Myristica fragrans, cultivated in the tropics for its hard aromatic seed: family Myristicaceae
See also mace2
2.
the seed of this tree, used as a spice
3.
any of several similar trees or their fruit
4.
a greyish-brown colour
verbWord forms: -megs, -megging or -megged(transitive)
5. British sport informal
to kick or hit the ball between the legs of (an opposing player)
Word origin
C13: from Old French nois muguede, from Old Provençal noz muscada musk-scented nut, from Latin nuxnut + muscusmusk
nutmeg in American English
(ˈnʌtˌmɛg)
noun
1.
the hard, aromatic seed of an East Indian tree (Myristica fragrans) of the nutmeg family: it is grated and used as a spice, and its outer covering yields the spice mace
2.
the tree itself
adjective
3.
designating a family (Myristicaceae, order Magnoliales) of tropical, dicotyledonous trees
Word origin
ME notemygge, partial transl. of OFr nois muguete < Prov noiz muscade, lit., musky nut < L nux, nut + LL muscus, musk