Nutmeg comes from Latin nux muscata (musk-scented nut), through Anglo-Norman French, with the 'musk' element reshaped by folk etymology into the more familiar-sounding 'meg.'
The hard, aromatic seed of an East Indian tree, used ground as a spice.
From Anglo-Norman nois mugede or Old French nois muguede, meaning 'musk-flavored nut,' from Latin nux muscata (musk-scented nut), from nux (nut) and muscatus (musky), from muscus (musk). The word was then reshaped in English by folk etymology, with the unfamiliar mugede replaced by the more familiar meg, possibly influenced by the name Margaret. Key roots: nux (Latin