ginger

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) The pungent aromatic rhizome of a tropical Asian herb, Zingiber officinale, used as a spice and as a stimulant and acarminative.
2. (countable, uncountable) The plant that produces this rhizome.
3. (countable, uncountable) Other species belonging to the same family, Zingiberaceae, especially those of the genus Zingiber
4. (countable, uncountable) A reddish-brown color.
5. (colloquial, countable, derogatory, often) A person with reddish hair; a redhead.
6. (colloquial, uncountable) Vitality, vigour, liveliness (of character).
7. (colloquial, countable, uncountable) Ginger ale, or can or bottle of such (especially if dry).
8. (Scotland, colloquial, countable, uncountable) Any fizzy soft drink, or can or bottle of such; pop; soda.

Adj

1. Of a reddish-brown color.
2. Having hair or fur of this color.

Verb

1. (transitive) To add ginger to.
2. (idiomatic, transitive) To enliven, to spice (up).
3. (transitive) To apply ginger to the anus of a horse to encourage it to carry its tail high and move in a lively fashion.
4. (Nigeria, transitive) To inspire (someone); to give a little boost to.

Adj

Very careful or cautious; also, delicate, sensitive.

Adv

In a very careful or cautious manner; also, delicately, sensitively.

Verb

To move gingerly, in a very careful and cautious manner.

Adj

Homosexual.

Synonyms

redhead

red

gingerroot

peppiness

gingery

red-haired

powdered ginger

red-head

rufous

pep

spirit

verve

vigour

dark brown

Zingiber officinale

Canton ginger

common ginger

orange-brown

stem ginger

wild ginger

butcherbird

zingiber

mettle

oomph

parsley

pistil

reddish

redheaded

roux

russet

sand

Translations

gingembre

Ingwer

zenzero

gengibre

jengibre

gember

gingebre

زنجبيل

Zingiber officinale

πιπερόριζα

zencefil

rouquin

πιπερόρριζα

roux

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈdʒɪndʒə/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: gingere

Inherited from Old English: gingifer

Cognate with Old French: gingembre

Cognate with Tamil: இஞ்சிவேர்

In summary

Etymology tree
Old Tamil 𑀇𑀜𑁆𑀘𑀺 (iñci)
Proto-Dravidian *wēr
Old Tamil 𑀯𑁂𑀭𑁆 (vēr)
Old Tamil 𑀇𑀜𑁆𑀘𑀺𑀯𑁂𑀭𑁆 (iñcivēr)bor.
Sauraseni Prakrit 𑀲𑀺𑀁𑀕𑀺𑀯𑁂𑀭 (siṃgivera)der.
Ancient Greek ζιγγίβερις (zingíberis)bor.
Late Latin zingiberi
Late Latin gingiberbor.
Proto-West Germanic *gingiberō
Old English gingifer
Late Latin gingiber
Old French gingembreinflu.
Middle English gingivere
Middle English gingere
English ginger
Inherited from Middle English gingere, alteration of gingivere, from Old English gingifer, gingiber (influenced by Old French gingembre), from Medieval Latin gingiber, zingiber, from Latin zingiberi, from Late Ancient Greek ζιγγίβερις (zingíberis), from Sauraseni Prakrit 𑀲𑀺𑀁𑀕𑀺𑀯𑁂𑀭 (siṃgivera), ultimately from Old Tamil 𑀇𑀜𑁆𑀘𑀺𑀯𑁂𑀭𑁆 (iñcivēr), a compound of 𑀇𑀜𑁆𑀘𑀺 (iñci, “ginger”) and 𑀯𑁂𑀭𑁆 (vēr, “root”) (compare modern Tamil இஞ்சிவேர் (iñcivēr), from இஞ்சி (iñci, “ginger”) + வேர் (vēr, “root”)).