rattan

views updated May 18 2018

rat·tan / raˈtan; rə-/ • n. 1. the thin pliable stems of a palm, used to make furniture. ∎  a length of such a stem used as a walking stick. 2. the tropical Old World climbing palm (genus Calamus) that yields this product, with long, spiny, jointed stems.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

rattan

views updated May 23 2018
A Dictionary of Plant Sciences MICHAEL ALLABY

rattan

views updated Jun 08 2018

rattan Climbing palm native to the East Indies and Africa. Its stems can grow to 150m (500ft). They are used for making ropes and furniture. Family Arecacae/Palmae; genus Calamus.

World Encyclopedia

rattan

views updated May 11 2018

rattan palm of the genus Calamus, stem of this switch or stick made therefrom. XVII. var. of earlier rot(t)ang — Malay rotan.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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