'Nigella sativa' definitions:

Definition of 'Nigella sativa'

From: WordNet
noun
Herb of the Mediterranean region having pungent seeds used like those of caraway [syn: black caraway, nutmeg flower, Roman coriander, Nigella sativa]

Definition of 'Nigella sativa'

From: GCIDE
  • Nutmeg \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. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 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). [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Nigella sativa'

From: GCIDE
  • Fennel \Fen"nel\ (f[e^]n"n[e^]l), n. [AS. fenol, finol, from L. feniculum, faeniculum, dim. of fenum, faenum, hay: cf. F. fenouil. Cf. Fenugreek. Finochio.] (Bot.) A perennial plant of the genus F[ae]niculum ({F[ae]niculum vulgare}), having very finely divided leaves. It is cultivated in gardens for the agreeable aromatic flavor of its seeds. [1913 Webster]
  • Smell of sweetest fennel. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • A sprig of fennel was in fact the theological smelling bottle of the tender sex. --S. G. Goodrich. [1913 Webster]
  • Azorean fennel, or Sweet fennel, (F[ae]niculum 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. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Nigella sativa'

From: GCIDE
  • Fitch \Fitch\ (?; 224), n.; pl. Fitches. [See Vetch.]
  • 1. (Bot.) A vetch. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Nigella sativa'

From: GCIDE
  • Cumin \Cum"in\ (k?m"?n), n. [OE.comin, AS. cymen, fr. L. cuminum, Gr. ???????; of Semitic origin, cf. Ar. kamm?n, Heb. kamm?n; cf. OF. comin, F. cumin. Cf. Kummel.] (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.] [1913 Webster]
  • Rank-smelling rue, and cumin good for eyes. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
  • Black cumin (Bot.), a plant (Nigella sativa) with pungent seeds, used by the Afghans, etc. [1913 Webster]