Spikenard
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A perfumed ointment, extracted from the plant Nardostachys jatamansi that belongs to the Valerian family and grows in the Himalayas. countable, uncountable
"While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof."
- 2 an aromatic ointment used in antiquity wordnet
- 3 The plant Nardostachys jatamansi (syn. Nardostachys grandiflora). countable, uncountable
"A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices"
- 4 Lavandula stoechas, another species used in antiquity to produce an aromatic oil. countable, uncountable
- 5 Any plant of the genus Aralia of the Araliaceae family. countable, uncountable
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 False spikenard (Maianthemum racemosum, syn. Smilacina racemosa) countable, uncountable
- 7 Ploughman's spikenard (Inula conyza, now Pentanema conyzae). countable, uncountable
- 8 Wild spikenard (Asarum europaeum). countable, uncountable
Example
More examples"While the king is on his couch, my spikenard exudes its perfume."
Etymology
From Middle English spikenard, spikenarde, from Anglo-Norman spicanarde, from Medieval Latin spīca nardī, from Latin spica (“spike”) + nardi (“nard”). Equivalent to spike + nard.
Related phrases
More for "spikenard"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.