Gin'seng, n.

n. [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 garentoguen, which signifies, legs and thighs separated. By others it is said to be from the Chinese word gen-seng, first of plants.] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Panax, the root of which is highly valued as a medicine among the Chinese. It is found in the northern parts of Asia and America, and the species P. quinquefolium is an article of export from America to China. The root, when dry, is of a yellowish-white color, with a mucilaginous sweetness in the taste, somewhat resembling that of licorice, accompanied with a slight aromatic bitterness.