Gagel

Gagel (also sometimes spelled gaggle in older sources, but distinct from the collective noun for geese) is an archaic English term of uncertain origin, primarily referring to the shrub Myrica gale, also known as sweet gale, bog-myrtle, or sweet willow. The term can also refer to products derived from the plant, most notably an aromatic oil extracted from its leaves and twigs.

The shrub itself is a deciduous nitrogen-fixing shrub native to northern and western Europe, parts of northern Asia, and eastern North America. It thrives in wet, acidic conditions such as bogs, moorlands, and the margins of lakes and rivers.

Historically, "gagel" and its derivatives were used in various ways. The oil was employed in traditional medicine for its purported antiseptic and insect-repelling properties. The leaves were also used as a flavoring agent in beer, predating the widespread use of hops. Furthermore, the plant has a history of use as a natural dye.

While the term "gagel" is less common in modern English, the plant itself and its alternative names (sweet gale, bog-myrtle) remain in use within botany, horticulture, and herbalism. The etymology of "gagel" is not definitively known, but connections have been proposed to similar-sounding words in Germanic languages referring to marshy areas or specific plants.