zedoary

[ zed-oh-er-ee ]
/ ˈzɛd oʊˌɛr i /

noun

an East Indian drug consisting of the rhizome of either of two species of curcuma, Curcuma zedoaria or C. aromatica, used as a stimulant.

Origin of zedoary

1425–75; late Middle English zeduarye < Medieval Latin zeduāria < Arabic zadwār (< Persian) + Latin -ia -y3

Words nearby zedoary

zechariah, zed, zed-bar, zedekiah, zedillo ponce de leon, zedoary, zedonk, zeds, zee, zeebrugge, zeeland

Example sentences from the Web for zedoary

  • And all carried rue and wormwood in their hands, and myrrh and zedoary in their mouths, as protection against infection.

    Royalty Restored |J. Fitzgerald Molloy

British Dictionary definitions for zedoary

zedoary
/ (ˈzɛdəʊərɪ) /

noun

the dried rhizome of the tropical Asian plant Curcuma zedoaria, used as a stimulant and a condiment: family Zingiberaceae

Word Origin for zedoary

C15: from Medieval Latin zedoaria, from Arabic zadwār, of Persian origin

Medical definitions for zedoary

zedoary
[ zĕd′ō-ĕr′ē ]

n.

An Indian plant that has yellow flowers, purple bracts, and starchy tuberous rhizomes.
The dried rhizomes of this plant that are used as a condiment as well as in perfumes, medicines, and cosmetics.