Galangal

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Galanga \Ga*lan"ga\, Galangal \Ga*lan"gal\, n.[OE. galingale,
     OF. galingal, garingal, F. galanga (cf. Sp. galanga), prob.
     fr. Ar. khalanj[=a]n. ]
     The pungent aromatic rhizome or tuber of certain East Indian
     or Chinese species of {Alpinia} ({Alpinia Galanga} and
     {Alpinia officinarum}) and of the {K[ae]mpferia Galanga}), --


     all of the Ginger family.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  galangal
       n 1: southeastern Asian perennial with aromatic roots [syn: {Alpinia
            galanga}]
       2: European sedge having rough-edged leaves and spikelets of
          reddish flowers and aromatic roots [syn: {galingale}, {Cyperus
          longus}]