A tall marsh plant (Cladium mariscus) with long, narrow leaves and reddish-brown flower spikes, found in wetland areas.
From Middle English 'galingale,' possibly from Old French or Dutch origins. The exact etymology is debated, but may relate to a plant used in medieval herbal medicine, or derive from Eastern plant names.
Galingale was huge in medieval cuisine and medicine—it smells slightly like gasoline (hence the name in some places), and historical records show it was one of the most expensive spices in 1300s England, worth more than pepper.
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