ˈgalə̇nˌgāl, -liŋˌ- noun
also gal·an·gal -lə̇nˌgal, -liŋˌ- ; or gal·an·gale -ˌgāl ; or cal·an·gall ˈkalə̇nˌgȯl, -liŋˌ-
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English galyngale, from Middle French galingal, garingal, from Old French, from Arabic khalanjān
1.
a. : a pungent aromatic rhizome produced in eastern Asia by plants related to the true ginger and formerly used in medicine and cookery
b. : either of two plants of the family Zingiberaceae that yield galingale:
(1) : a Chinese perennial herb ( Alpinia officinalis ) with pyramidal racemes of rose-veined white flowers
(2) : a stemless perennial herb ( Kaempferia galanga ) of southeastern Asia with fragrant short-lived largely white flowers
2. : an Old World sedge ( Cyperus longus ) with a root having properties like and sometimes used in place of galingale ; broadly : a plant of the genus Cyperus