galingale

[ gal-in-geyl, -ing- ]

noun

any sedge of the genus Cyperus, especially an Old World species, C. longus, having aromatic roots.

Origin of galingale

First recorded in 1275–1325, in the sense “aromatic rhizome of the genus Alpinia”; Middle English galyngal, galyngale from Middle French galingal, garingal, from Medieval Latin galinga, galanga, galingala, from Arabic khalanjān, khalunjān, khūlunjān, from Persian khūlanjān; further origin uncertain; cf. galangal

Words Nearby galingale

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use galingale in a sentence

Thence they cut them pointed flag-leaves, and deep marsh-galingale.
Theocritus, Bion and Moschus | Theocritus
There are oak trees—here only galingale blows, here sweetly hum the bees about the hives!
Theocritus, Bion and Moschus | Theocritus
Here be oak trees, and here the galingale, and sweetly here hum the bees about the hives.
Theocritus, Bion and Moschus | Theocritus

British Dictionary definitions for galingale

galingale

galangal

/ (ˈɡælɪŋˌɡeɪl) /

noun

a European cyperaceous plant, Cyperus longus, with rough-edged leaves, reddish spikelets of flowers, and aromatic roots

Origin of galingale

C13: from Old French galingal, from Arabic khalanjān, from Chinese kaoliang-chiang, from Kaoliang district in Guangdong province + chiang ginger

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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