ginger

Etymology 1

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), from Sanskrit शृङ्गवेर (śṛṅgavera) (influenced by शृङ्ग (śṛṅga, “horn”)), ultimately from Proto-Dravidian *cinki-wēr.

noun

1. The pungent aromatic rhizome of a tropical Asian herb, Zingiber officinale, used as a spice and as a stimulant and acarminative.
2. The plant that produces this rhizome.
3. Other species belonging to the same family, Zingiberaceae, especially those of the genus Zingiber
4. A reddish-brown color.
   ginger:
5. (colloquial, often derogatory, countable) A person with reddish-brown hair; a redhead.
6. (colloquial, uncountable) Vitality, vigour, liveliness (of character).
   The position in the country and in this House might be well expressed by a reference to the recent activities of the ginger party in Great Britain — the party that demanded that more ginger be put into the conduct of the war. 1918, Official Report of Debates, House of Commons, Canada Parliament House of Commons
   He had, however, "put some more ginger in two nights ago. Things move with exasperating slowness in this country.” 1990, Nancy Elizabeth Gallagher, Egypt's Other Wars: Epidemics and the Politics of Public Health
   The party managers demanded more “ginger.” 1919, John Maynard Keynes, The Economic Consequences of the Peace, published 2007, page 77
7. (colloquial, countable and uncountable) Ginger ale, or can or bottle of such (especially if dry).
   Can you buy dry ginger in Croatia? If not what is an alternative? 2018-05-02, 5:56pm, pyatts, Tripadvisor
8. (colloquial, Scotland, especially Glasgow, countable and uncountable) Any fizzy soft drink, or can or bottle of such; pop; soda.
   Here’s, um, not toast but bread, anyway. And a can of ginger. 2010, Denise Mina, Still Midnight
   A lot of people will tell you ‘ginger’ tastes best in glass, and there is a science behind that,” says the company’s commercial director. 2015-08-19, Douglas Fraser, bbc.co.uk
   Maybe I was naive in thinking that baking with fizzy juice (soda, ginger, pop, whatever your regional name for the stuff is!) would be straightforward. 2016-01-07, Amy, baking with granny.co.uk

adj

1. (of hair or fur) Of a reddish-brown colour.
2. Having hair or fur of this colour.
   a ginger tomcat

verb

1. To add ginger to.
   They gingered the biscotti, black and whited the cookies and oated the meals. 2009, Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar
   The first breather of the day came when Naomi brought some gingered lemonade out to the barn. 2013, Suzanne Woods Fisher, The Letters (The Inn at Eagle Hill Book #1): A Novel
2. To enliven, to spice (up).
   The accident was an excuse merely to replace an old-fashioned regular with old-fashioned notions by an active, fire-eating young general who would ginger things up. 1982, Lawrence Durrell, Constance, Faber & Faber, published 2004, page 886
   Before an action began, he liked to make bold predictions as to its outcome; this was part of his way of gingering people up, of creating an aura of victory to come. 2004, Eric Larrabee, Commander in Chief: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, His Lieutenants, and Their War, page 464
   Regarding this human angle, DeMille wrote, "I am sometimes accused of gingering up the Bible with large and lavish infusions of sex and violence. I can only wonder if my accusers have ever read certain parts of the Bible." 2007, J. Stephen Lang, The Bible on the Big Screen: A Guide from Silent Films to Today's Movies
3. To apply ginger to the anus of a horse to encourage it to carry its tail high and move in a lively fashion.
   If he had been gingered, he would have gone well. After I bought him, I gingered him. 1850, William Percivall, editor, The Veterinarian, page 594
   Gingering is decided cruelty. 1884, The British Veterinary Journal, volume 18, page 426
   There he is, moving in his best form, with the full knowledge that that long whip in his rear will once more be round his flanks, as it has often been before, if he fails to wake up when he comes out for a show—well gingered, too, we should say, and all life and action. 1893, Baily's Magazine of Sports & Pastimes, volume 60, page 161
4. (Nigeria, transitive) To inspire (someone); to give a little boost to.
   These steps may not be immediately popular, but the society may have to bear with them until they succeed in gingering renewed interest and pride in the language so chosen. 2002, K. K. Prah, Rehabilitating African Languages
   In conclusion, intensive campaigns should be done in relation to gingering the nomads' interest in education, improve their interaction with neighbours and encourage them to start considering a more sedentary pastoral life. 2006, Africa e Mediterraneo: cultura, politica, economia, società
   I attended their concert first, so that was what gingered me to continue this school. 2015, “19-year-old student at a music school in Nigeria”, in BBC Newshour

Etymology 2

Back-formation from gingerly (adverb).

adj

1. (chiefly Britain, regional, Canada, US) Very careful or cautious; also, delicate, sensitive.
   They, the Rabbis, for better or for worse, were very ginger with this question. 2006, John W. McGinley, About the King’s Choice to Build His Palace Right on Top of a Dunghill: (Or, How to Conceptualize Jewishly), Lincoln, Neb.: iUniverse, page 540
   After a very ginger landing, everyone aboard was able to see up close how lucky they had been to reach base. 2007, Flypast
   Moving very slowly, taking extremely ginger steps, the woman felt beads of sweat dripping down from her body. 2009, Franklin Newman, The Prophetess of Bromfryel: The Knights of Callistor, page 509

adv

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

verb

1. To move gingerly, in a very careful and cautious manner.
   Spring training began on Christmas Day, when my cousin and I gingered onto the lot behind the fire station to try out our new spikes. 1 September 1972, Paul Hemphill, “I Gotta Let the Kid Go”, in Life, volume 73, number 9, →ISSN, page 42
   She gingered her way into the river and timidly splashed into its waters. 1979, Bill Marshall, Bukom, Longman, page 83
   I gingered my hands into my grandfather’s [boxing] gloves. 1992, Donald Anderson, “My Name Is Stephen Mann”, in Aethlon, University of Iowa Press, published 2001, page 11
   Takin’ good care not to topple into the depths o’ this muddy ol’ ooze, I gingered my way across the muddy path along the river’s edge until I arrived at that big hat. 2009, Montana Kid Hammer, The Old West Adventures of Ornery and Slim: The Partnership, AuthorHouse, page 47

Etymology 3

Cockney rhyming slang: ginger beer, queer.

noun

1. (UK, Cockney rhyming slang) A homosexual.

adj

1. (UK, Cockney rhyming slang) Homosexual.