nard
A flowering plant of species Nardostachys jatamansi, in the valerian family, that grows in the Himalayas and is used as a perfume, an incense, a sedative, and an herbal medicine.
Noun
- A flowering plant of species Nardostachys jatamansi, in the valerian family, that grows in the Himalayas and is used as a perfume, an incense, a sedative, and an herbal medicine.
- A fragrant oil from the plant, formerly much prized.
- […]there cam a womã with an alablaſter boxe of oyntment / called narde / that was pure and coſtly / and ſhe brake the boxe ãd powred it on his heed. - 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale...
- The Roman poet Horace refers to a lecherous old fop "scented with nard." - 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 182:
- American spikenard (Aralia racemosa), a North American perennial herb with an aromatic root.
Origin
From Middle English narde, from Old French narde, Latin nardus, from Ancient Greek νάρδος (nárdos), from Phoenician [Term?], Sanskrit नलद (nálada, “Indian narde”). Doublet of nardus.
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Noun US, plural normally
- A testicle.
- The soccer ball hit me right in the nards!
- I’m sure whoever was in charge must have been one of the last of the Fulda Fucktards, you know, those generals who spent their nard-drop years training to defend West Germany from Ivan. - 2006, Max Brooks, World War Z:
Origin
Alteration of nuts (“testicles”) or nads (“gonads”).
Forms
Synonyms
Noun Entry 3
- A Persian game similar to backgammon.
Origin
Borrowed from Persian نرد (nard)