English → Latin
“nard” in Latin
The English word nard itself goes back to Latin nardus.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
nard
nardus, nardi, feminine (Plin.) or nardum, nardi, neuter [☞ The ancients applied this name to several odoriferous plants of different kinds; as, the Gallic or Celtic (Valeriana Celtica, Linn.); the Cretan (Valeriana Italica, Linn.); the Arabian (probably Andropogon Schoenanthus, Linn.); the Italian, our Lavender (Lavendula spica, Linn.); and especially the Indian nard, nardus Indica, or spica nardi, from which the precious nard-oil was prepared: this last is Valeriana Jatamansi, according to Jones, Asiatic Researches, vols. ii. and iv. Vid: especially Plin., 12, 12, 26]: of nard, nardinus (Plin.): nard-oil, nardinum (Plin.): nard unguent, unguentum nardinum (Plin.); nardus (Hor.).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for nard?
- The usual Latin words for “nard” are nardus, IV, nardĭnus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.