\Zed"o*a*ry\, n. [F. z['e]doaire, LL. zedoaria; cf. It.
zedoaria, zettovario, Pg. zedoaria, Sp. zedoaria, cedoaria;
all fr. Ar. & Per. zedw?r.] (Med.)
A medicinal substance obtained in the East Indies, having a
fragrant smell, and a warm, bitter, aromatic taste. It is
used in medicine as a stimulant.
Note: It is the rhizome of different species of {Curcuma},
      esp. {C. zedoaria}, and comes in short, firm pieces,
      externally of a wrinkled gray, ash-colored appearance,
      but within of a brownish red color. There are two
      kinds, round zedoary, and long zedoary.