What does moscada mean?

Question

Just wondering if anyone can tell me what moscada means. I know nuez moscada and moscada can both be used to refer to nutmeg. In nuez moscada, isn't moscada an adjective and if so, what does it mean?

Answer 1

Aha! Thank you, Quentin! the Latin from which the word has come into the language translates to "musk" in English (I just looked up "almizcle")

Next I turned to the University of Chicago's explanation of Spanish suffixes. The -ada suffix can be attached to either verb or noun stems. Look what it indicates when attached to a noun stem:

-ada

b. attaches to noun stems to indicate a blow: cachetada ‘blow on the cheek’ (cachete ‘cheek’), puñalada ‘stab with a dagger’ (puñal ‘dagger’)

This turns out to have been a very interesting question for me!! Thank you h1deaway. I now also better understand "nutmeg" in English.

Oh...I should also include in this post what "musk/almizcle" is for those who might not know:

–noun 1. a substance secreted in a glandular sac under the skin of the abdomen of the male musk deer, having a strong odor, and used in perfumery.

en Español

1. m. Sustancia grasa, untuosa, de olor intenso que algunos mamíferos segregan en glándulas situadas en el prepucio, en el periné o cerca del ano, y, por ext., la que segregan ciertas aves en la glándula debajo de la cola. Por su untuosidad y aroma, el almizcle es materia base de ciertos preparados cosméticos y de perfumería.

Thank you very much Janice. - h1deaway, Mar 7, 2010

Answer 2

I don't know if "moscada" is an adjective or not -to be honest I've always felt curious about the origin of the words "nuez moscada"- but what I am sure of is that "nuez moscada" doesn't imply "ground" anywhere, it is the whole unground thing. To say "ground nutmeg" you need to say things like "nuez moscada molida" or "nuez moscada rallada".

Interesting! In fact, I also usually buy my nutmeg whole:-) - Janice, Sep 21, 2010

I think it would have to be nuez moscada molida to signify "ground nutmeg." - Abuelita4, Nov 17, 2013

Answer 3

It can also be called vino de garnacha or vin grec (Greek wine).

Answer 4

Moscada is muscatel i.e. a sweet wine offered with dessert.

Answer 5

I don't understand your comment/post, hilo1.

if nuez moscada means ground nutmeg then obviously moscada means just plain old nutmeg!

The Collins dictionary online does indeed list moscada as an adjective, albeit it only give the example of it modifying "nuez" (=nut)...or a kind of nut, I guess.

I think that the etymology of "moscada" would be of interest here. I may have a look in some of my culinary books because I am as interested as is h1deaway now that he/she has brought it up.

Answer 6

moscada.

(Del lat. muscus, almizcle, y -ada).

? V.

nuez moscada

RAE

Apparently moscada is not an adjective.

Answer 7

would that be an unground form?