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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web 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 The Thai broth, however, boasts a beautifully bright bouquet, with the flavors of lime, lemongrass, ginger and galangal all wrapped up in a spicy, aromatic punch. Dominic Armato, azcentral, 17 Feb. 2020 The hazelnut and chocolate bites are silky smooth thanks to the addition of avocado, and the coconut and lemon version gets some zip from ginger and galangal. Amanda Shapiro, Bon Appétit, 25 Oct. 2019 Its aromas — of galangal, ginger and shallot — bloom further in the roasting. Soleil Ho, SFChronicle.com, 14 Nov. 2019 The menu at Banana Leaf Kitchen is small, but standouts include the Lao sausage, made with fat-heavy pork, galangal and lemongrass. Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2019 Add the fresh ginger, galangal, kaffir lime peel and turmeric. San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Aug. 2019 Pisha-Duffly encouraged me to start my sauce with some roasted or sauteed aromatics — a combination of shallots, galangal, garlic, chiles and ginger give it fragrance, flavor and texture. Jessica Battilana, SFChronicle.com, 30 Aug. 2019 When the oil is hot, add the shallots, shrimp paste, garlic, galangal, ginger and chile and cook, stirring, until the shallots are softened and translucent and the mixture is very fragrant, about 5 minutes. Jessica Battilana, SFChronicle.com, 30 Aug. 2019 See More
James Oseland, Saveur, 9 Feb. 2010 The Thai broth, however, boasts a beautifully bright bouquet, with the flavors of lime, lemongrass, ginger and galangal all wrapped up in a spicy, aromatic punch. Dominic Armato, azcentral, 17 Feb. 2020 The hazelnut and chocolate bites are silky smooth thanks to the addition of avocado, and the coconut and lemon version gets some zip from ginger and galangal. Amanda Shapiro, Bon Appétit, 25 Oct. 2019 Its aromas — of galangal, ginger and shallot — bloom further in the roasting. Soleil Ho, SFChronicle.com, 14 Nov. 2019 The menu at Banana Leaf Kitchen is small, but standouts include the Lao sausage, made with fat-heavy pork, galangal and lemongrass. Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2019 Add the fresh ginger, galangal, kaffir lime peel and turmeric. San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Aug. 2019 Pisha-Duffly encouraged me to start my sauce with some roasted or sauteed aromatics — a combination of shallots, galangal, garlic, chiles and ginger give it fragrance, flavor and texture. Jessica Battilana, SFChronicle.com, 30 Aug. 2019 When the oil is hot, add the shallots, shrimp paste, garlic, galangal, ginger and chile and cook, stirring, until the shallots are softened and translucent and the mixture is very fragrant, about 5 minutes. Jessica Battilana, SFChronicle.com, 30 Aug. 2019 See More 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