\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.
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}, {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} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), 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}).