First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
galangal
noun gal·an·gal \ˈga-lən-ˌgal, -liŋ-\
Definition of GALANGAL
1
: either of two eastern Asian perennial herbs (Alpinia galanga and A. officinarum) of the ginger family with dark green sword-shaped leaves and pungent aromatic rhizomes
2
: the fresh, dried, or ground rhizome of a galangal used in cookery as a spice and in medicine
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Origin of GALANGAL
Middle English galingale, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin galingala, galanga, from Arabic khalanjān, khulūnjān
Medical Dictionary
galangal
noun gal·an·gal \gə-ˈlaŋ-gəl\
Medical Definition of GALANGAL
1
: either of two eastern Asian perennial herbs (Alpinia galanga and A. officinarum) of the ginger family with dark green sword-shaped leaves and pungent aromatic rhizomes
2
: the fresh, dried, or ground rhizome of a galangal used in cookery as a spice and sometimes medicinally—called also galangal root
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