ginger

ginger · noun, adjective, verb¹

1. Proto-Dravidian*wēr
2. Sauraseni Prakrit𑀲𑀺𑀁𑀕𑀺𑀯𑁂𑀭 (siṃgivera)
3. Ancient Greekζιγγίβερις (zingíberis)
4. Latinzingiberi
5. Late Latingingiber
6. Proto-West Germanic*gingiberō
7. Old Englishgingifer
8. Old Frenchgingembreinflu.
9. Middle Englishgingivere
10. Middle Englishgingere
11. English todayginger

Inherited from Middle English gingere, alteration of gingivere, from Old English gingifer, gingiber (influenced by Old French gingembre), from Medieval Latin gingiber, zingiber, from Latin zingiberi, from Late Ancient Greek ζιγγίβερις (zingíberis), from Sauraseni Prakrit 𑀲𑀺𑀁𑀕𑀺𑀯𑁂𑀭 (siṃgivera), ultimately from Old Tamil 𑀇𑀜𑁆𑀘𑀺𑀯𑁂𑀭𑁆 (iñcivēr), a compound of 𑀇𑀜𑁆𑀘𑀺 (iñci, “ginger”) and 𑀯𑁂𑀭𑁆 (vēr, “root”) (compare modern Tamil இஞ்சிவேர் (iñcivēr), from இஞ்சி (iñci, “ginger”) + வேர் (vēr, “root”)).

ginger · adjective, adverb, verb²

Back-formation from gingerly (adverb).

ginger · noun, adjective³

Cockney rhyming slang: ginger beer, queer.

Ginger · proper noun⁴

A diminutive of Virginia; also a nickname for someone or something with ginger-coloured hair.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from early 16th c. Very careful or cautious; also, delicate, sensitive.