ETYM Old Eng. notemuge; note nut + Old Fren. muge musk, of the same origin as Eng. musk; cf. Old Fren. noix muguette nutmeg, French noix muscade. Related to Nut, and Musk.
1. East Indian tree widely cultivated in the tropics for its aromatic seed; source of two spices: nutmeg and mace; SYN. nutmeg tree, Myristica fragrans.
2. Hard aromatic seed of the nutmeg tree used as spice when grated or ground.
Kernel of the seed of the evergreen tree Myristica fragrans, native to the Maluku. Both the nutmeg and its secondary covering, known as mace, are used as spice in cooking.