nutant 
of the body: as, a nutant head. -Nutant horn or 
process, in z : >l-. a horn or process bent or curved toward 
the anterior extremity of the body. 
nutation (nu-ta'shon), n. [= F. nutation = 
Sp. nutation '= Pg. fwtaf&o = It. nutazione, < L. 
nutatio(n-), a nodding, swaying, shaking, < - 
tare, pp. nutatus, nod: see nutant.'} 1. A nod- 
ding. 
So from the midmost the nutation spreads, 
Bound and more round, o'er all the sea of heads. 
Pope, Bunciad, it 409. 
2. In patltol. , a constant nodding or involuntary 
shaking of the head. Dunglison. 3. Inastron., 
a small subordinate gyratory movement of the 
earth's axis, in virtue of which, if it subsisted 
alone, the pole would describe among the stars, 
in a period of about nineteen years, a minute 
ellipse, having its longer axis directed toward 
the pole of the ecliptic, and the shorter, of 
course, at right angles to it. The consequence of 
this real motion of the pole is an apparent approach and 
recession of all the stars in the heavens to the pole in the 
same period ; and the same cause will give rise to a small 
alternate advance and recession of the equinoctial points, 
by which both the longitudes and the right ascensions of 
the stars will be also alternately increased or diminished. 
This nutation, however, is combined with another mo- 
tion namely, the precession of the equinoxes and in 
virtue of the two motions the path which the pole de- 
scribes is neither an ellipse nor a circle, but a gently un- 
dulated ring; and these undulations constitute each of 
them a nutation of the earth's axis. Both these motions 
and their combined effect arise from the same physical 
cause namely, the action of the sun and moon upon the 
protuberant mass at the earth's equator. See precession. 
The phenomena of Precession and Nutation result from 
the earth's being not centrobaric, and therefore attracting 
the sun and moon, and experiencing reactions from them, 
in lines which do not pass precisely through the earth's 
centre of inertia, except when they are in the plane of its 
equator. Thomson and Tait, Nat. Phil., 825. 
4. In bot., same as circumnutation. 
This oscillation is termed nutation, and is due to the fact 
that growth in length is not uniformly rapid on all sides of 
the growing organ, but that during any given period of 
time one side grows more rapidly than the others. 
Encyc. Brit., XIX. 68. 
nutational (nu-ta'shon-al), a. [< nutation + 
-al.~\ Of, pertaining to. or exhibiting nutation. 
nutator (nu-ta'tor), n. [NL., < L. nature, nod : 
see nutant.'] A nodder: in the term nutator 
capitis, that which nods the head, namely the 
sternoclidomastoideus muscle. 
nut-bone (nut'bon), . A sesamoid bone in the 
foot of a horse : there is one at the fetlock- 
joint, and another at the joint between the 
coronary and the coffin-bone. The latter is also 
known as the navicular bone. See cuts under 
solidungtilate and hoof. 
nutbreaker (nut'bra'ker), n. 1. The nut- 
hatch. 2. The nutcracker. See nutcracker, 4. 
nut-brown (nut'broun), a. Brown as a ripe and 
dried nut. 
Shal never be sayd the Nutbrowne Mayd 
Was to her love unkind. 
The Nuibrowne Mayd (Child's Ballads, IV. 147). 
Then to the spicy nut-brown ale, 
With stories told of many a feat. 
Milton, L'Allegro, 1. 100. 
Shown him by the nut-brown maids, 
A branch of Styx here rises from the shades. 
Pope, Dunciad, ii. 337. 
nutcake (nut'kak), n. 1. A doughnut. [U.S.] 
" Taste on 't," he said ; " it 's good as nutcakes. " 
3. Judd, Margaret, i. 5. 
2. Any cake containing nuts. 
nut-coal (nut'kol), n. In the coal-trade, same 
as chestnut-coal. 
nutcracker (nut'krak"er), n. 1. An instru- 
ment for cracking hard-shelled nuts. Hence 
2. A toy, usually having a grotesque human 
head, in the yawning mouth of which a nut is 
placed to be cracked by a screw or lever. 3. 
pi. The pillory. Hattiwell.l. A corvine bird 
of Europe and Asia, Nacifraga caryocatactes, 
belonging to the order Passeres, family Coreidai, 
and subfamily Garrulinw. See cut at Nucifraga. 
The bird is about 12J inches long, and is brown, with many 
bold oblong or drop-shaped white spots. The correspond- 
ing Asiatic species is N. hemispila. 
5. The nuthatch, Sitta casia. [Salop, Eng.] 
American nutcracker, a book-name of Clarke's crow, 
Picicorvm columbianus, a bird of the western parts of the 
United States, the nearest relative in America of the Old 
World species of Nucifraga. See cut at Picicorvus. 
nut-crack night (nut'krak nit). All-hallows' 
eve, when it is customary to crack nuts in large 
quantities. 
Kuts and apples are everywhere in requisition, and con- 
sumed in immense numbers. Indeed the name of Nut- 
crack Night, by which Halloween is known in the north 
of England, indicates the predominance of the former of 
these articles in making up the entertainments of the 
evening. Chambers, Book of Days, II. 519. 
4044 
nut-fastening (nut'fas"ning), . Same as nut- 
lock. 
nutgall (nut'gal), n. An excrescence, chiefly 
of the oak. See galft, 1. Nutgall ointment. See 
ointment. 
nutgrass (nut'gras), n. See Cyperus. 
nuthackt, nuthaket, Obsolete forms of nut- 
hatch. 
nuthacker (nut'hak"er), n. A nuthatch. 
nuthatch (nut'hach), n. [Early mod. E. nut- 
hack, nothag, nothagge, < ME. nuthake, nutte- 
hake, nothak; < nut + hack*, hatcltf. Cf. nut- 
cracker, 4.] A bird of the family Sittidte.. There 
are many species, found in most parts of the world, all of 
small size, usually less than six inches long, and mostly 
of a bluish color above and white or rusty on the under 
parts. They have a rather long, sharp, straight beak, 
pointed wings, short square tail, and feet fitted for climb- 
ing, and are among the most agile of creepers. The com- 
WhiK-bellied Nuthatch {Sitta fanlinentts). 
mon nuthatch of Europe is Sitta europcm or S. ccesia. 
Four quite distinct species are found in the United States. 
These are the Carolina or white-bellied nuthatch, S. 
carolinensis ; the Canada or red-bellied, S. canadensis; the 
least nuthatch of the southern States, S. pusilla; and the 
pygmy nuthatch of the southwestern States and Territo- 
ries, S. pygmcea. They live upon small hard fruits and 
insects, are not migratory, do not sing, and nest in holes 
in trees, which they excavate like woodpeckers. Also called 
nutbreaker, nuthacker, nutjobber, nutpecker, nuttapper. 
nut-hole (nut'hol), n. The notch in a bow to 
receive the arrow. Halliwell. 
nut-hook (nut'huk), n. 1. A pole with a hook 
at the end used to pull down boughs to bring 
nuts within reach. 
She 's the king's nut-hook, that, when any filbert is ripe, 
pulls down the bravest bough to his hand. 
Dekker, Match me in London. 
2f. A bailiff: so called in derision, because 
armed with a catch-pole. 
Nut-hook, nut-hook, you lie ! Shak., 2 Hen. IV., v. 4. & 
nutjobber (nut'joV'er), n. A nuthatch. 
nutlet (nut'let), n. [< nut + -let.'} 1. A little 
nut ; also, the stone of a drupe. See cuts under 
Carninus and coffee. 2. In conch., a nutshell. 
nut-lock (nut'lok), n. A device for fastening 
a bolt-nut in place and preventing its becom- 
ing loose by the jarring or tremulous motion of 
machinery. Also called nut-fastening, jam-nut. 
nut-machine (nut'ma-shen"), n. A power-ma- 
chine for cutting, stamping, and swaging iron 
nuts from a heated bar fed to the machine. 
nutmeal (nut'mel), n. Meal made by crushing 
or grinding the kernels of nuts. 
Filberts and acorns were used as food. These were 
crushed, so as to form a kind of meal to which the name 
Maothal was given. . . . Nutmeal naturally formed a 
valuable resource to these early monks, so important in- 
deed that the Maothal came in process of time to mean 
the meal taken on fast days, and which consisted at first 
of nutmeal and milk, and afterwards of oatmeal, milk, 
cheese, etc. 
W. K. Sullivan, Introd. to O'Curry's Anc. Irish, p. ccclxv. 
nutmeg (nut'meg), . [Early mod. E. also nut- 
mig; ( ME. nutmegge, *nutmigge, nutmuge, note- 
muge, nutmeg, < nut, nut, + *muge, < OF. muge, 
musk (for *musge t), < L. muscus, musk: see 
musk. Cf. OF. muguette, nutmeg; noix muscade 
= Sp. nuez moscada = It. noce moscada, < ML. 
nux muscata, nutmeg, lit. 'musked (scented) 
nut'; D. muskaatnoot, G. muskatnuss, Sw. mux- 
kottndtjD&ii.muskatnod: see muscat.'] 1. The 
kernel of the fruit of the nutmeg-tree, Myristiea 
fragrans (M. moschata) ; also, the similar pro- 
duct of other trees of this genus. See Afi/rix- 
tica. The fruit, with some resemblance to a peach, has 
a fleshy edible exterior, which splits in two, releasing 
the seed, enveloped in a fibrous network (false aril : see 
arillode) which is preserved as mace. (See maceV.) The 
nut-planer 
seed is thoroughly dried, the shell then cracked, and the 
olive-shaped kernel, about an inch in length, commonly 
treated with lime for preservation, becomes the nutmeg 
of commerce. Its principal use is that of an aromatic con- 
diment, especially to flavor milky and farinaceous prepa- 
rations. (For medical use, see Myristiea.) Its virtues de- 
pend upon an essential oil, called nutmeg-oil. It yields 
also a concrete oil called nutmeg-butter. The nutmeg 
supply is chiefly, but not exclusively, from the Banda 
Islands, where it was formerly a monopoly of the Dutch. 
Penang nutmegs have been especially famous. The long, 
male, or wild nutmeg, a longer kernel, is an inferior sort 
occurring in trade, the product of M. fatua and M. tomen- 
tosa, the long sometimes referred to the former, the male 
to the latter. 
Orl. He 's of the colour of the nutmeg. 
Dau. And of the heat of the ginger. 
Shak., Hen. V., iii. 7. 20. 
Wytethe wel that the Notemuge berethe the Maces. 
Mandeville, Travels, p. 188. 
2. Any tree of the genus Myristiea. The Santa 
Tfi nutmeg is if. Otoba of the United States of Colombia, 
yielding an edible article. The tallow-nutmeg is Jf. sebi- 
.fera of tropical South America, whose seeds yield a con- 
crete oil suitable for making hard soap and candles, some- 
times called American nutmeg-oil. See ocuba-u-ax and 
poondy-oil. 
3. One of various trees of other genera. See 
below. Ackawai nutmeg, the nut of Acrodididium 
Camera of Guiana, prized as a cure for colic and dys- 
entery. American, Jamaica, or Mexican nutmeg. 
See Monodora. Brazilian nutmeg, a laurineous tree, 
Cryptocarya moschata, whose seeds serve as an inferior 
nutmeg. Calabash-nutmeg. See Monodora. Cali- 
fornia nutmeg, a tree, Torreya CaHfornica, whose seeds 
resemble nutmegs. See stinking-cedar and Torrrya. 
Camara or Camaru nutmeg. Same as A ckawai nutmeg. 
Clove-nutmeg, a Madagascar tree, Ravensara aroma- 
tica, or its fruit Garble of nutmegt. See garble. 
Madagascar nutmeg. Same as clove-nutmeg. Peru- 
vian nutmeg, a tree with aromatic seeds, Laurelia, sem- 
pemirens. Also called Chilian sassafras. the Nutmeg 
State, the State of Connecticut : so called in allusion to 
the alleged manufacture of wooden nutmegs in that State. 
nutmeg-bird (nut'meg-b6rd), . A species of 
Mtmia, M. punctularia, inhabiting India. P. 
L. Sclater. 
nutmeg-butter (nufmeg-buffer), n. A con- 
crete oil obtained by expression under heat 
from the common nutmeg. It has been sparingly 
used as an external stimulant and an ingredient in plasters. 
Also called oil of nutmegs and o# o/ mace. 
nutmeg-flower (nut'meg-flou"er), n . The plant 
Nigella sativa: so called from its aromatic seeds. 
See Nigella. 
nutmegged (nut'megd), a. [< nutmeg + -<?d 2 .] 
Seasoned with nutmeg. 
Old October, nutmey'd nice, 
Send us a tankard and a slice 1 
T. Warton, Oxford Newsman's Verses. 
nutmeg-grater (nut'meg-gra"ter), n. A device 
in various forms for grating nutmegs. 
Be rough as nutmeg graters, and the rogues obey you well. 
Aaron Hill, Verses written on a Window in Scotland. 
nutmeggy (nut'meg-i), a. [< nutmeg + -y 1 .] 
Having the appearance or character of a nut- 
meg. 
Again and again I met with the nutmeggy liver, strong- 
ly marked. Sir T. Watson, Lectures on Physic, Ixxv. 
nutmeg-hickory (nut'meg-hik"o-ri), n. A local 
species of hickory, Hicoria (Carya) myristicai- 
formis, of South Carolina and Arkansas: so 
called from the form of the nut. 
nutmeg-liver (nut'meg-liv"er), n. A liver ex- 
hibiting chronic venous congestion, with more 
or less interstitial hepatitis. 
nutmeg-oil (nut'meg-oil), n. A transparent 
volatile oil, specific gravity 0.850, with the con- 
centrated scent and flavor of the common nut- 
meg, whence it is extracted by aqueous distil- 
lation. 
nutmeg-pigeon (nut'meg-pij"on), n. A pigeon 
of the genus Myristicivora : so called from feed- 
ing upon nutmegs. 
nutmeg-tree (nut'meg-tre), n. Myristiea fra- 
grans. See nutmeg. 
riutmeg-WOOd (nut'meg-wud), n. The wood of 
the Palmyra palm. 
nut-oil (nut'oil), n. An oil obtained from wal- 
nuts. It is extensively made in France and elsewhere. 
Poppy-oil and other oils are also commercially known as 
nut-oil. 
nutpecker (nut'pek"er), n. A nuthatch. 
nut-pick (nut'pik), n. A small utensil having a 
pointed blade, flattened above the point, used 
for picking the meat of nuts from the shells. 
nut-pine (mit'pin), . One of several pines pro- 
ducing large edible seeds. The nut-pine of Europe 
is Pinus Pinea. In the Rocky Mountains and westward 
there are several nut-pines, furnishing the Indians a staple 
food. The most important are Pinus edulis of New Mex- 
ico, P. monvphjlln of the Great Basin, and P. Sabiniana 
of California. See abietene. 
nut-planer (nut'pla/ner), . A form of planing- 
machine for facing, beveling, and finishing 
large machine-nuts ; a nut-shaping machine. 
