galangal

noun

gal·​an·​gal ˈga-lən-ˌgal 

-liŋ-,

gə-ˈlaŋ-gəl 

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

Examples of galangal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Powder galangal also usually lasts longer than fresh galangal. —Lindsey Desoto, Health, 31 July 2024

While many of those spices are Middle Eastern, Thai ingredients such as lemongrass, coconut milk and galangal are also present. —Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 28 May 2024

The floral notes of lemongrass, the earthy galangal, freshness of kaffir lime leaves and the heat of the chilies. —Zoe Li, CNN, 2 May 2023

This central-Thai specialty—catfish dry-braised in galangal, Kaffir lime leaves, and an abundance of spices—is probably my favorite thing to eat in LA. —James Oseland, Saveur, 9 Feb. 2010

Word History

Etymology

Middle English galingale, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin galingala, galanga, borrowed (by uncertain mediation) from Arabic khalanjān, khūlanjān, khaulanjān, borrowed from Persian khāvalinjān, of obscure origin

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

galangal

noun

gal·​an·​gal gə-ˈlaŋ-gəl 

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