Forms: α. 4– spikenard (4 speke-, spyknard), 5–6 spikenarde, spyk(e)narde (5 spykenard), 6 spignard, spiknarde, 7 spick-, 7–8 spiknard. β. 4 spikanard. γ. 6 spekenardy, 7 spyke nardy. [ad. late or med.L. spīca nardī (see SPIKE sb.1 and NARD sb.), rendering Gr. νάρδου στάχυς (also ναρδόσταχυς); perhaps partly after OF. spicanarde fem., spica-, spice-, spiquenard masc., = It. spiganardi, -nardo, Sp. espicanardi, -nardo. Cf. also MDu. spikenaerde, -naert (Du. spijknardus), MLG. spikenardi, -nard(us), MHG. spicanarde (G. spikenarde, with many older variants), MSw. spikinardus, etc.]
1. An aromatic substance (employed in ancient times in the preparation of a costly ointment or oil) obtained from an Eastern plant, now identified as the Nardostachys Jatamansi of Northern India.
α. c. 1350. Leben Jesu (1873), 63. Þat oygnement was of spikenard þat mani may do bote.
1382. Wyclif, John xii. 3. Therfore Marie took a pound of oynement spikenard [v.r. spekenard], or trewe narde.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), vii. 26. Sum distilles gariofles, spikenarde, and oþer spiceries.
1465. Mann. & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.), 305. Item, for a unce of spykenarde, viij. d.
1545. Raynald, Byrth Mankynde, 84. Take of cupresse nuttes, spikenard, balaustium, acorne cuppes, of eche an ounce.
1599. B. Jonson, Cynthia’s Rev., V. iv. The decoction of turmericke, sesama, nard, spikenard.
1671. Salmon, Syn. Med., III. xxii. 401. Indian-leaf; its virtues are the same with Mace and Spicknard.
1712. trans. Pomet’s Hist. Drugs, I. 50. Chuse the true Spiknard from the Levant.
1841. Elphinstone, Hist. India, I. 11. The wildest hills are covered with a highly scented grass, the essential oil of which is supposed by some to have been the spikenard of the ancients.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., xxxii. 12. She bathes the Saviour’s feet With costly spikenard and with tears.
1869. Oliver, Elem. Bot., II. 192. Spikenard is the root of Nardostachys jatamansi, a North Indian plant. It has been highly valued as a perfume from early antiquity.
β. 1382. Wyclif, Mark xiv. 3. A womman … hauynge a box of precious oynement spikanard.
γ. 1545. Raynald, Byrth Mankynde, 83. Dyp wool in ye oyle of masticke or of spekenardy [1613 spyke Nardy], and laye it vnto the place.
2. The plant yielding this substance; now spec. the North Indian Nardostachys Jatamansi, a plant of the Valerian order.
1548. Turner, Names Herbes (E. D. S.), 55. Nardus is named in grecke Nardos, in englishe Spyknarde.
1671. Phillips, Spikenard, (Nardus Indica,) an Odoriferous Plant, the Oil whereof is much used in Medicine.
1714. Steele’s Poet. Misc., Solomon’s Song, 242. Spikenard and Cinnamon, that loves the Vale.
1830. Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 197. Valerian Jatamansi, or true Spikenard of the ancients, is valued in India … as a remedy in hysteria and epilepsy.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Spikenard, the Nardostachys Jatamansi, a dwarf herbaceous plant,… a native of the Himalayas.
1897. G. O. Morgan, Ecl. Virgil, iv. 15. Ivy that everywhere roves with the spikenard’s growth interwoven.
fig. 1692. W. Marshall, Gosp. Myst. Sanct., xiii. 298. Thus your Spikenards will yield their Smell, as godly sorrow … peace,… joy.
3. † a. Lavender. Obs. (Cf. SPIKE sb.1 4.)
1563. Hyll, Art Garden. (1593), 94. Lauender is an hearbe sweet in smelling;… [and] for that it giueth no lesse sauor than the Spike, is of the same named Spikenard.
1579. Langham, Gard. Health (1633), 622. Spikenard (see Lauender).
1736. N. Bailey, Household Dict., s.v., Spikenard or Lavender Spike.
b. Valerian. rare. (Cf. SPIKE sb.1 5.)
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 99. Spicknard, or Valerian, hath leaves like the Primrose, growing in bunches, out of which comes a stalk set with jagged leaves.
1864. J. Gilbert & G. C. Churchill, Dolomite Mountains, 325. The Speik (Valeriana celtica) is a very small plant…. You will be familiar with it as spikenard.
c. Amer. (See quots.)
1845–50. Mrs. Lincoln, Lect. Bot., App. 75/2. Aralia … racemosa (spikenard).
1864. Grisebach, Flora Brit. W. Ind., 787/2. Spikenard: Hyptis suaveolens.
4. Ploughman’s or plowman’s spikenard, the wild plant Inula Conyza (formerly assigned to the genera Baccharis and Conyza).
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, II. cclxv. 648. This plant Baccharis … in English … may be called the Cinamom roote, or Plowmans Spiknarde.
1671. Phillips, Plowmans Spiknard, a sort of plant called in Latin Baccharis.
1753. Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl., Baccharis,… commonly called plowman’s spikenard, a sweet scented shrubby plant. Ibid., s.v. Flea Bane, The common great conyza, called Plowman’s spikenard.
1777. Jacob, Catal. Plants, 11. Coryza squarrosa, Plowman’s Spikenard.
1821. Clare, Vill. Minstr., I. 115. Thy horehound tufts I love them well, And ploughman’s spikenard’s spicy smell.
1901. E. Phillpotts, in Pall Mall Mag., Sept., 105/1. Fragrant ploughman’s spikenard now rises.
5. With various specific adjectives, as American, bastard, Celtic, Cretan, false, French, Indian, mountain, small, Syrian, West Indian, wild spikenard (see quots.).
1866. Treas. Bot., 1083/2. *American Spikenard, Aralia racemosa.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 317. Spikenard, *Bastard French, Nardus.
1693. trans. Blancard’s Phys. Dict. (ed. 2), Spica celtica, or Nardus celtica, *celtic Spikenard.
1718. Quincy, Compl. Disp., 169. Celtick Spikenard.—This is reckon’d of kin to our Lavender, both by Family … and Virtues.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 317. Spikenard, Celtic, Valeriana.
1891. Cent. Dict., s.v., *Cretan spikenard, Valeriana Phu.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 317. Spikenard, *False, Lavandula.
1856. A. Gray, Man. Bot. (1860), 467. Smilacina racemosa. False Spikenard. Ibid. (1857), First Less. Bot. (1866), 81. A compound raceme, as in the Goat’s-beard and the False Spikenard.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, II. ccccxxv. 921. Nardus Narbonensis, *French Spikenard. Ibid. Nardus Indica, *Indian Spikenard.
1693. trans. Blancard’s Phys. Dict. (ed. 2), Nardus indica, Spica Indica, Indian Spikenard, great quantities of it grow in Java.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 317. Spikenard, Indian or True.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, II. ccccxxv. 919. Nardus Celtica, *Mountaine Spikenard. Ibid. Creeping mountaine Spikenard.
1831. Davies, Mat. Med., 206. *Small Spikenard. False Sarsaparilla Root. Aralia nudicaulis.
1611. Cotgr., Nard Syriaque, *Syrian Spikenard, Indian Spikenard.
1866. Treas. Bot., 1083/2. *West Indian Spikenard, Hyptis suaveolens.
1611. Cotgr., Nard rustique, *Wild Spikenard, Valerian.
1647. Hexham, I. (Herbs), Assarabacke or wilde Spiknard, Hasel-wortel.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 317. Spikenard, Wild, Asarum.
1866. Treas. Bot., 1083/2. Wild Spikenard, Aralia nudicaulis.
6. Oil of spikenard (see quots.).
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Vnguentum nardinum, oyle of spikenarde.
1648. Hexham, II. Spijck-olie, Oyle of Spike, or of Spike-nard.
1725. Fam. Dict., s.v., The Oil of Spikenard is a Sovereign Remedy for Sheep … incommoded with Obstructions.
1847. Royle, Mat. Med., 621. A Volatile Oil [is secreted] by Andropogon Calamus aromaticus,… and several other species [of grasses]. This oil, often called Oil of Spikenard, is extremely grateful for its fragrance [etc.].
1861. Bentley, Man. Bot., 699. The oil known in India as Roshé or Rosé Oil, and in London as Turkish Essence of Geranium,… is also sometimes termed oil of spikenard.
7. attrib., as spikenard garden, oil.
1806. T. Maurice, Fall Mogul, II. iv. Mild, as soft whispers of the vernal breeze That sweeps the spikenard gardens of the South.
1861. Bentley, Man. Bot., 699. The precious Spikenard Oil of Scripture is supposed by some to have been derived from A[ndropogon] Iwarancusa.
