galangal

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

galangal
    n 1: southeastern Asian perennial with aromatic roots [syn:
         {galangal}, {Alpinia galanga}]
    2: European sedge having rough-edged leaves and spikelets of
       reddish flowers and aromatic roots [syn: {galingale},
       {galangal}, {Cyperus longus}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Galanga \Ga*lan"ga\, Galangal \Ga*lan"gal\, n.[OE. galingale,
   OF. galingal, garingal, F. galanga (cf. Sp. galanga), prob.
   fr. Ar. khalanj[=a]n. ]
   The pungent aromatic rhizome or tuber of certain East Indian
   or Chinese species of {Alpinia} ({Alpinia Galanga} and
   {Alpinia officinarum}) and of the {K[ae]mpferia Galanga}), --
   all of the Ginger family.
   [1913 Webster]