Nut·meg n.  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 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).

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 Cum·in n.  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.]
    Rank-smelling rue, and cumin good for eyes.   --Spenser.
 Black cumin Bot., a plant (Nigella sativa) with pungent seeds, used by the Afghans, etc.

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 Fitch n.; pl. Fitches
 1. Bot. A vetch. [Obs.]
 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.


 Fen·nel n.  Bot. A perennial plant of the genus Fæniculum (Fæniculum vulgare), having very finely divided leaves.  It is cultivated in gardens for the agreeable aromatic flavor of its seeds.
    Smell of sweetest fennel.   --Milton.
    A sprig of fennel was in fact the theological smelling bottle of the tender sex.   --S. G. Goodrich.
 Azorean fennel, or Sweet fennel, (Fæniculum 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.

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 Nigella sativa
      n : herb of the Mediterranean region having pungent seeds used
          like those of caraway [syn: black caraway, {nutmeg
          flower, Roman coriander]