galingale

American  

[gal-in-geyl, -ing-] / ˈgæl ɪnˌgeɪl, -ɪŋ- /

noun

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

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galingale British  

/ ˈɡælɪŋˌɡeɪl /

noun

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

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Etymology

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 ( def. )

Example Sentences

Now much of it is at the local Safeway: fresh turmeric, several kinds of Thai basil, gingers like galingale, and strange fruits, including the dread durian, which tastes sublime but smells foul.

From Time Magazine Archive

My lord, you rule wide country, rolling and rich with clover, galingale and all the grains: red wheat and hoary barley.

From "The Odyssey" by Homer

The Island is of surpassing wealth, producing black pepper, nutmegs, spikenard, galingale, cubebs, cloves, and all other kinds of spices.

From The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 2 by Yule, Henry

The country produces ginger and galingale in immense quantities, insomuch that for a Venice groat you may buy fourscore pounds of good fine-flavoured ginger.

From The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 2 by Yule, Henry

Where are the four now, with each red-ripe mouth I wonder, does the streamlet ripple still, Outsmoothing galingale and watermint?

From Browning's Heroines by Armfield, Maxwell