rattan
UK[rəˈtæn]US[rəˈtæn, ræˈtæn]
n
The thin, tough stems of a type of climbing palm, used especially for making furniture and baskets.
n
A piece of this stem, or a cane made from it.
Etymology
The word 'rattan' entered English in the 17th century from Malay, reflecting the material's prevalence in Southeast Asia. The Malay term 'rotan' likely originates from the verb 'raut', meaning to pare or strip, a direct reference to the process of preparing the cane by trimming and peeling. This journey from a specific action verb to the name of the material itself illustrates a common pattern where a product is named after its primary processing method. The word's adoption into English, with minor phonetic adaptation, marks the colonial trade networks that introduced this versatile material to the Western world.
Analysis
The word 'rattan' is a simplex loanword. It does not contain separable morphemes within the English spelling. Its origin is from the Malay word 'rotan', which itself may derive from 'raut', meaning 'to pare' or 'to trim'.
Examples
The chair was woven from durable rattan.
He used a length of rattan to support the climbing plant.
Traditional basketry in the region often utilizes locally sourced rattan.