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Glite Dictionary
Nutmeg State

Nutmeg State

7.0
A nickname for the US state of Connecticut
  • proper noun
  • /ˈnʌtˌmɛg steɪt/
  • US
translation icon : Estado de la nuez moscada
  • Did you know that Nutmeg State is one of the original colonies?

Examples

  • She grew up in the Nutmeg State and still visits Connecticut every summer.

  • Connecticut is often referred to as the Nutmeg State.

  • Many people from the Nutmeg State enjoy visiting the scenic coastline.

  • The Nutmeg State played a crucial role in the American Revolution.

  • Connecticut is commonly known as the Nutmeg State due to its history of nutmeg trade.

  • Many tourists visit Connecticut, the Nutmeg State, to experience its rich colonial history.

  • The license plate of Connecticut features the nickname Nutmeg State prominently.

Synonyms

Constitution State
vsNutmeg State
5.3

A nickname for the state of Connecticut in the United States

is another informal nickname for the same original US colony

Surface Forms

Nutmeg State main

Morphology

Nutmeg + state

This is a conventional, culture-specific nickname for Connecticut whose referent cannot be derived from the literal constituents. Knowing 'nutmeg' (a spice) and 'state' does not allow a B1 learner to infer that the phrase names a particular U.S. state, so the expression is idiomatic and not compositionally transparent.

Etymology

Nutmeg State may come from a popular story about early sellers in Connecticut. One story says some sellers made wooden nutmegs that looked real and sometimes tricked buyers, so people began calling Connecticut the 'Nutmeg State' as a 'nickname'. That's why today Nutmeg State means 'Connecticut'.