spikenard

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spikenard

/ˈspaɪknɑː(ɹ)d/
/ˈspɪknɑːɹd/ obsolete
/ˈspɪknæɹd/ obsolete
/ˈspɪknəɹd/ obsolete

Where it comes from

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

noun spikenards

countable, uncountable A perfumed ointment, extracted from the plant Nardostachys jatamansi that belongs to the Valerian family and grows in the Himalayas. While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
countable, uncountable The plant Nardostachys jatamansi (syn. Nardostachys grandiflora). 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
countable, uncountable Lavandula stoechas, another species used in antiquity to produce an aromatic oil.
countable, uncountable Any plant of the genus Aralia of the Araliaceae family.
Similar: spignet
countable, uncountable False spikenard (Maianthemum racemosum, syn. Smilacina racemosa)
countable, uncountable Ploughman's spikenard (Inula conyza, now Pentanema conyzae).
countable, uncountable Wild spikenard (Asarum europaeum).

Translations

Every language

noun perfumed ointment

Español	nardo
한국어	나드 nadeu
日本語	ナルド narudo
हिन्दी	जटामासी jaṭāmāsī, बालछड़ bālchaṛ
Português	nardo
Français	nard
Italiano	nardo
Ελληνικά	νάρδος nárdos
Русский	нард nard

noun The plant Nardostachys jatamansi

Español	espicanardo
한국어	감송 gamsong, 감송풀 gamsongpul
日本語	カンショウ
中文	甘松 gānsōng, 匙葉甘松 /匙叶甘松 chíyè gānsōng
हिन्दी	जटामासी jaṭāmāsī, बालछड़ bālchaṛ
Português	nardo
Français	nard
Italiano	spigonardo
Ελληνικά	νάρδος nárdos
Русский	нард nard

noun plant of the genus Aralia

Русский	ара́лия arálija

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MLA

"spikenard." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/spikenard. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

spikenard. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/spikenard

Chicago

"spikenard." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/spikenard.

BibTeX

@misc{spikenard_2026,
  title = {spikenard},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/spikenard},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}