nutmeg
nutmeg Lexical Profile
nutmeg Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To season or flavor food or drink with grated nutmeg.
"The baker lightly nutmegged the custard tarts before sliding them into the oven."
To kick or play the ball between the legs of an opposing player (especially in soccer).
"The striker managed to nutmeg the goalkeeper to score the winning goal."
• noun
The fleshy, pale-yellow, apricot-like fruit of the nutmeg tree, which splits open when ripe to reveal the crimson lacy aril (mace) surrounding the inner seed, and whose pericarp is candied or made into preserves.
"In Indonesia and Malaysia, the tart flesh of the ripe nutmeg fruit is often sliced and pickled or cooked into jam."
In soccer and field hockey, a skillful maneuver in which a player kicks or plays the ball directly between an opponent's legs and retrieves it on the other side.
"The winger executed a quick nutmeg on the defender and sprinted toward the penalty box."
An aromatic tropical evergreen tree (especially Myristica fragrans) native to the Banda Islands of Indonesia, cultivated for its seeds which yield both nutmeg and mace.
"The plantation grows rows of nutmeg alongside clove and cinnamon trees."
The hard, aromatic, oval seed of a tropical evergreen tree, grated or ground for use as a warm, sweet culinary spice.
"She grated a pinch of fresh nutmeg over the creamy eggnog before serving."
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English notemuge, a partial translation of Old French nois muguede ('musky nut'), ultimately derived from Late Latin nux muscata.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.