Lexic.us

Definition of Spikenard

1. Noun. An aromatic ointment used in antiquity.

Definition of Spikenard

1. n. An aromatic plant. In the United States it is the Aralia racemosa, often called spignet, and used as a medicine. The spikenard of the ancients is the Nardostachys Jatamansi, a native of the Himalayan region. From its blackish roots a perfume for the hair is still prepared in India.

Definition of Spikenard

1. Noun. A perfumed ointment. ¹

2. Noun. The plant, ''Nardostachys jatamans'', from which the ointment comes. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Spikenard

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Spikenard

1. 1. An aromatic plant. In the United States it is the Aralia racemosa, often called spignet, and used as a medicine. The spikenard of the ancients is the Nardostachys Jatamansi, a native of the Himalayan region. From its blackish roots a perfume for the hair is still prepared in India. 2. A fragrant essential oil, as that from the Nardostachys Jatamansi. Origin: For spiked nard; cf. G. Spieknarde, NL. Spica nardi. See Spike an ear, and Nard. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Spikenard

Literary usage of Spikenard

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The American Cyclopaedia: A Popular Dictionary of General Knowledge by Charles Anderson Dana (1876)
"spikenard. The ancients, under the name of nard (Heb. nerd; Gr. vdp/5of, Lat. nardus), ... The plant called spikenard in this country is aralia ..."

2. The plants of the Bible, trees and shrubs by John Hutton Balfour (1866)
"12, it is said, "While the King sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth ... 3, spikenard is referred to both as regards its perfume and its value. ..."

3. The Plants of the Bible by John Hutton Balfour (1885)
"12, it is said, "While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth ... 3, spikenard is referred to both as regards its perfume and its value. ..."

4. The Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal by Robert Jameson, William Jardine, Henry Darwin Rogers (1826)
"is also taken to be a sort of spikenard. Now, two more distinct things do not exist than those two genera;' and the root of the Valeriana ..."

5. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the by Charles George Herbermann (1913)
"Ointment of spikenard, a very costly unguent, is mentioned in Mark, xiv, 3, " an alabaster box of ointment of precious spikenard" (cf. John, xii, 3). ..."

6. The Indian Forester (1884)
"NARDOSTACHYS JATAMANSI, THE spikenard OF THE ANCIENTS. WHEN, some fifty years ago, Dr. Forbes Royle was Superinten- dent of the Botanical Gardens ..."

7. The American Cyclopaedia: A Popular Dictionary of General Knowledge by George Ripley, Charles Anderson Dana (1883)
"There were also a leafy nard, a rooting nard, and others designated by the names of the countries producing them.—The plant called spikenard ..."

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