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spike·nard

(spīknärd′)

1. An aromatic perennial herb (Nardostachys grandiflora) of the Himalaya Mountains, having rose-purple flowers. Also called nard.

2. An ointment of antiquity, probably prepared from this plant.

3. Any of several plants of the genus Aralia, especially the North American species A. racemosa, having small greenish flowers, aromatic roots, and bipinnately compound leaves.

[Middle English, from Anglo-Norman, from Medieval Latin spīca nardī : Latin spīca, spike, ear + Latin nardī, genitive of nardus, nard.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

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Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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