spikenard

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: spike=nard

CIDE DICTIONARY

spikenard, n. [For spiked nard; cf. G. spieknarde, NL. spica nardi. See Spike an ear, and Nard.].

•  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]
•  A fragrant essential oil, as that from the Nardostachys Jatamansi.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

spikenard, n.
1 Bot. an Indian plant, Nardostachys grandiflora.
2 hist. a costly perfumed ointment made from this.

Etymology

ME ult. f. med.L spica nardi (as SPIKE(2), NARD) after Gk nardostakhus