spikenard

3 definitions found

spikenard - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Spikenard \Spike"nard\, n.[For spiked nard; cf. G. spieknarde,
     NL. spica nardi. See Spike an ear, and Nard.]
     1. (Bot.) An aromatic plant. In the United States it is the
        Aralia racemosa, often called spignet, and used as a
        medicine. The spikenard of the ancients is the
        Nardostachys Jatamansi, a native of the Himalayan
        region. From its blackish roots a perfume for the hair is
        still prepared in India.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A fragrant essential oil, as that from the Nardostachys  Jatamansi
        .
        [1913 Webster]

spikenard - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  spikenard
      n 1: an aromatic ointment used in antiquity [syn: nard,
           spikenard]

spikenard - Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary :

  Spikenard
  (Heb. nerd), a much-valued perfume (Cant. 1:12; 4:13, 14). It
  was "very precious", i.e., very costly (Mark 14:3; John 12:3,5).
  It is the root of an Indian plant, the Nardostachys jatamansi,
  of the family of Valeriance, growing on the Himalaya mountains.
  It is distinguished by its having many hairy spikes shooting out
  from one root. It is called by the Arabs sunbul Hindi, "the
  Indian spike." In the New Testament this word is the rendering
  of the Greek nardos pistike. The margin of the Revised Version
  in these passages has "pistic nard," pistic being perhaps a
  local name. Some take it to mean genuine, and others liquid. The
  most probable opinion is that the word pistike designates the
  nard as genuine or faithfully prepared.