SPIKENARD

SPIKENARD
SPIKENARD (Nard; Heb. נֵרְד, nerd), spice mentioned three times in the Song of Songs. It grew in the imaginary spice garden to which the loved one is compared (Song 4:12–14) and she perfumed herself with it while waiting for her beloved (1:12). According to an ancient baraita, spikenard was one of the 11 spices from which the Temple incense was prepared (Ker. 6a; see incense and perfumes and Pittum ha-Ketoret). It is called spikenard (Nardostachys) because of its appearance, which is similar to that of an ear of corn. It was extracted from the plants Nardostachys jatamansi and N. grandiflora that grow in the Himalayas. The name nard is derived from the Sanskrit nalada which means "spreading fragrance." This highly valued perfume was extracted both from the stalk (Lat. spicatum) which is the spikenard and from the leaves (Lat. foliatum). The Tosefta mentions polyaton oil among the luxuries whose use according to one view was forbidden after the destruction of the Temple as a sign of mourning (Tosef., Sot. 15:9). -BIBLIOGRAPHY: Loew, Flora, 1 (1926), 309; 2 (1924), 15; 3 (1924), 483; J. Feliks, Olam ha-Ẓome'aḥ ha-Mikra'i (19682), 244–5; H.N. and A.L. Moldenke, Plants of the Bible (1952), index. (Jehuda Feliks)

Encyclopedia Judaica. 1971.

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  • 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 Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spikenard — mid 14c., aromatic substance from an Indian plant, from M.L. spica nardi (see SPIKE (Cf. spike) (n.2)), rendering Gk. nardou stakhys; the second element probably ultimately from Skt. nalada , the name of the plant …   Etymology dictionary

  • spikenard — [spīk′närd΄, spīk′nərd] n. [ME < LL(Ec) spica nardi < L spica, an ear of grain (see SPIKE2) + nardus,NARD] 1. a fragrant ointment used in ancient times 2. an Asiatic plant (Nardostachys jatamansi) of the valerian family that yielded this… …   English World dictionary

  • Spikenard — For other uses, see Spikenard (disambiguation). Spikenard Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae …   Wikipedia

  • spikenard — /spuyk neuhrd, nahrd/, n. 1. an aromatic, Indian plant, Nardostachys jatamansi, of the valerian family, believed to be the nard of the ancients. 2. an aromatic substance used by the ancients, supposed to be obtained from this plant. 3. any of… …   Universalium

  • spikenard — noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo French or Medieval Latin; Anglo French spicanarde, from Medieval Latin spica nardi, literally, spike of nard Date: 14th century 1. a. a fragrant ointment of the ancients b. a Himalayan aromatic plant… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • spikenard — spike·nard spīk .närd n 1 a) a fragrant ointment of the ancients b) a Himalayan aromatic plant (Nardostachys jatamansi) from which spikenard is believed to have been derived 2) an American herb of the genus Aralia (A. racemosa) whose dried… …   Medical dictionary

  • spikenard — širdinė aralija statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Aralijinių šeimos daržovinis augalas (Aralia cordata), paplitęs rytų Azijoje. atitikmenys: lot. Aralia cordata angl. Japanese asparagus; spikenard; udo vok. japanische Bergangelika pranc.… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • spikenard — stambiažiedis nardas statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Valerijoninių šeimos vaistinis augalas (Nardostachys grandiflora), paplitęs rytų ir pietų Azijoje. Iš jo gaunamas eterinis aliejus. atitikmenys: lot. Nardostachys grandiflora;… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • spikenard — aralija statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Aralijinių (Araliaceae) šeimos augalų gentis (Aralia). atitikmenys: lot. Aralia angl. aralia; spikenard vok. Aralie rus. аралия lenk. aralia …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

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