spikenard

From Middle English spikenard, spikenarde, from Anglo-Norman spicanarde, from Medieval Latin spīca nardī, from Latin spica (“spike”) +‎ nardi (“nard”). Equivalent to spike +‎ nard.

• IPA^(key): /ˈspaɪknɑː(ɹ)d/
• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /ˈspɪknɑːɹd/, /ˈspɪknæɹd/, /ˈspɪknəɹd/[1]

spikenard (countable and uncountable, plural spikenards)

1. A perfumed ointment, extracted from the plant Nardostachys jatamansi that belongs to the Valerian family and grows in the Himalayas.[2]
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Song of Solomon 1:12:

     While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.

   • 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, Canto XXXII, page 51:

     All subtle thought, all curious fears,
     ⁠Borne down by gladness so complete,
     ⁠She bows, she bathes the Saviour’s feet
     With costly spikenard and with tears.

   • 1916, James Joyce, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man:

     The glories of Mary held his soul captive : spikenard and myrrh and frankincense, symbolising the preciousness of God's gifts to her soul, rich garments, symbolising her royal lineage, her emblems, the lateflowering plant and lateblossoming tree, symbolising the agelong gradual growth of her cultus among men.

2. The plant Nardostachys jatamansi (syn. Nardostachys grandiflora).
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Song of Solomon 4:12-14:

     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

3. Lavandula stoechas, another species used in antiquity to produce an aromatic oil.
4. Any plant of the genus Aralia of the Araliaceae family.
5. False spikenard (Maianthemum racemosum, syn. Smilacina racemosa)
6. Ploughman's spikenard (Inula conyza, now Pentanema conyzae).
7. Wild spikenard (Asarum europaeum).

• American spikenard (Aralia racemosa)
• Arizona spikenard (Aralia humilis)
• bastard spikenard (Nardus stricta)
• cretan spikenard, Cretan spikenard (Valeriana phu)
• false spikenard (Maianthemum racemosum)
• Japanese spikenard (Aralia cordata)
• ploughman's spikenard, plowman's spikenard (Inula conyza, now Pentanema conyzae)
• small spikenard (Aralia racemosa)
• wild spikenard (Asarum europaeum)

• spikenard on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

• kidnapers, rekidnaps

• spicenarde, spiconarde, spikenarde, spiknarde, spycanard, spyconard, spykanard, spykenard, spykenarde, spykynard

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman spicanarde, from Medieval Latin spīca nardī.

• IPA^(key): /ˈspik(ə)nard/, /ˈspik(ə)ˌnard(ə)/

spikenard (uncountable)

1. Nard (Nardostachys jatamansi) or a similar plant.

   Synonym: narde

• English: spikenard

• “spīkenard, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.