alpinia

noun

al·​pin·​ia

alˈpinēə

1

capitalized : a large genus of herbs (family Zingiberaceae) found in Asia, Australia, and Polynesia with showy very irregular flowers and large aromatic rootstocks see galingale

2

plural -s : a plant of the genus Alpinia

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Prospero Alpini †1617 Italian botanist + New Latin -ia

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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