The verb "to nutmeg"

Posted by ESC on November 13, 2004

In Reply to: The verb "to nutmeg" posted by TheFallen on November 12, 2004

: Commonly understood in the UK (and maybe starting to take hold in the US too, given the fast rise of soccer within collegiate sports), the verb "to nutmeg" someone means to knock the ball between a defender's legs, either to get past him or indeed to score. My simple question... however did this come about?

The Dictionary of American Regional English mentions the practice of replacing "stolen" chicken eggs with nutmegs. But I think the origin of "to nutmeg" lies in this:

NUTMEG -- the testicles. Probably from the size and shape of nutmegs. British. 1600s. From "Slang and Euphemism: A Dictionary of Oaths, Curses, Insults, Ethnic Slurs, Sexual Slang and Metaphor, Drug Talk, College Lingo and Related Matters" by Richard A. Spears (New American Library, Penguin Putnam, New York, Third Edition, 2001)

• The verb "to nutmeg" James Briggs 13/November/04
  • Nuts! Lewis 15/November/04