nutmeg

 
Pronunciation: /ˈnʌtmɛg/

noun

  • 1the hard, aromatic, almost spherical seed of a tropical tree.
  • [mass noun] nutmegs grated and used as a spice: hot milk flavoured with nutmeg
  • 2the evergreen tree that bears nutmegs, native to the Moluccas.
    • Myristica fragrans, family Myristicaceae
  • 3 Soccer, informal an instance of playing the ball through an opponent’s legs.
    [extended use of obsolete nutmegs 'testicles']

verb (nutmegs, nutmegging, nutmegged)

[with object] Soccer, informal
  • play the ball through the legs of (an opponent): Brady drifted past three defenders, nutmegging the third with ease

Origin:

late Middle English notemuge, partial translation of Old French nois muguede, based on Latin nux 'nut' + late Latin muscus 'musk'