(also galangal /galˈən-gal/, galˈengale or galangˈa) the aromatic rootstock of certain East Indian plants of the ginger family (genera Alpinia and Kaempferia), used like ginger
The rootstock of a sedge (Cyperus longus), of ancient medicinal repute
Also the whole plant
ORIGIN: OFr galingal, from Ar khalanjān, from Chin gāoliàngjiāng, from Gāoliàng, a district near Canton, and jiāng ginger