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Webster 1913 Edition

Ginseng

Gin′seng

,
Noun.
[Chinese.]
(Bot.)
A plant of the genus
Aralia
, the root of which is highly valued as a medicine among the Chinese. The Chinese plant (
Aralia Schinseng
) has become so rare that the American (
A. quinquefolia
) has largely taken its place, and its root is now an article of export from America to China. The root, when dry, is of a yellowish white color, with a sweetness in the taste somewhat resembling that of licorice, combined with a slight aromatic bitterness.

Webster 1828 Edition

Ginseng

GIN'SENG

,
Noun.
[This word is probably Chinese, and it is said by Grosier, to signify the resemblance of a man, or man's thigh. He observes also that the root in the language of the Iroquois is called garentoquen, which signifies legs and thighs separated.]
A plant, of the genus Panax, the root of which is in great demand among the Chinese. It is found in the Northern parts of Asia and America, and is an article of export from America to China. It has a jointed, fleshy, taper root, as large as a man's finger, which when dry is of a yellowish white color, with a mucilaginous sweetness in the taste, somewhat resembling that of liquorice, accompanied with a slight bitterness.

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