Nut"let (?), n. (Bot.) A small nut; also, the stone of a drupe.
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.
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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), 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).
Nut"megged (?), a. Seasoned with nutmeg.
Nut"peck`er (?), n. (Zoöl.) The nuthatch.
Nu"tri*a (?), n. [Sp. nutria an otter, fr. L. lutra, lytra.] The fur of
the coypu. See Coypu.
Nu`tri*ca"tion (?), n. [L. nutricatio, fr. nutricare, nutricari, to
suckle, nourish, fr. nutrix a nurse.] The act or manner of feeding.
[Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Nu"tri*ent (?), a. [L. nutriens, p. pr. of nutrire. See Nourish.]
Nutritious; nourishing; promoting growth. -- n. Any substance which has
nutritious qualities, i. e., which nourishes or promotes growth.
Nu"tri*ment (?), n. [L. nutrimentum, fr. nutrire to nourish. See
Nourish.]
1. That which nourishes; anything which promotes growth and repairs the
natural waste of animal or vegetable life; food; aliment.
The stomach returns what it has received, in strength and nutriment
diffused into all parts of the body.
South.