galingale

G2A1L1I1N1G2A1L1E1
/ˈɡælɪŋɡeɪl/

noun

One of several species of Cyperus sedges with aromatic rhizomes.

Similar
galangalCyperus longus
OriginMiddle English galingale ← Old French galingal ← Arabic خَلَنْجَان →
Scrabble 11
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Meanings

noungalingale (countable and uncountable, plural galingales)

plural galingales

  1. alternativecountableuncountableAlternative spelling of galangal.

    An early English version [of marmalade] was called charedequynce, of which one version included wine, honey, ginger, galingale, cinnamon and wardens as well as quinces.

    1980 January 10, The Times, p.12 col. A
  2. countableuncountableOne of several species of Cyperus sedges with aromatic rhizomes.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounEuropean sedge having rough-edged leaves and spikelets of reddish flowers and aromatic roots

Similar
galangalCyperus longus
Broader
sedge
Also see
galangal

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Sanskritकुलञ्जन
  2. Persianقولنجان
  3. Arabicخَلَنْجَان
  4. Old Frenchgalingal
  5. Middle Englishgalingale
  6. Englishgalingale

From Middle English galingale, from Old French galingal, from Arabic خَلَنْجَان (ḵalanjān), from Persian قولنجان (qulenjân, qulanjân), from Sanskrit कुलञ्जन (kulañjana), perhaps from Chinese 高良薑／高良姜 (gāoliángjiāng), from 高涼 /高凉 (Gāoliáng) (a prefecture or county in China) + 薑 /姜 (jiāng, “ginger”).

More words from Middle English, Old French, Arabic

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

galingale. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/galingale

MLA

“galingale.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/galingale. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “galingale,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/galingale.

Source: galingale on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.