galingale

[ gal-in-geyl, -ing- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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

galingale

/ ˈɡælɪŋˌɡeɪl /

noun

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of galingale¹

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; galangal ( def )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of galingale¹

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

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Example Sentences

Thence they cut them pointed flag-leaves, and deep marsh-galingale.

From Project Gutenberg

There are oak trees—here only galingale blows, here sweetly hum the bees about the hives!

From Project Gutenberg

Here be oak trees, and here the galingale, and sweetly here hum the bees about the hives.

From Project Gutenberg

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