Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

   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}).

Fitch \Fitch\ (?; 224), n.; pl. {Fitches}. [See {Vetch}.]
   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.

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}.]

         Rank-smelling rue, and cumin good for eyes. --Spenser.

   {Black cumin} (Bot.), a plant ({Nigella sativa}) with pungent
      seeds, used by the Afghans, etc.

Source : WordNet®

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