Definition

Noun: 1. A switch or cane made from the stems of the rattan palm: A flexible rod, often used historically for corporal punishment or as a walking stick. 2. The material itself: The strong, flexible stems of certain climbing palms (genus Calamus and related genera) of tropical Asia and Africa, used for making furniture, baskets, and canes.

Usage and Examples

• As a material:
  • The chair was woven from durable ratan.
  • Traditional craftsmen use ratan for making baskets.
• As a cane or switch:
  • In some old schools, a ratan was kept for discipline.
  • He walked with the aid of a sturdy ratan.

Advanced Usage

• "To give someone the ratan": An archaic or historical phrase meaning to punish someone by caning.
  • The headmaster threatened to give the unruly student the ratan.

Variants and Related Words

• Rattan: This is the more common modern spelling for both the plant and the material. "Ratan" is an accepted variant.
• Rattan palm: The name for the climbing palm species that produce the stems.
• Rattan furniture: Furniture made from this material.

Synonyms

• Cane (when referring to the switch or the material, especially from the rattan palm).
• Switch (specifically for the disciplinary rod).
• Wicker (a related term for woven plant material, though wicker can be made from other plants like willow).

Notes on Meaning

The word "ratan" (or "rattan") primarily refers to the plant material. Its use to mean a cane or switch is a specific application of that material. In modern English, "rattan" is the dominant spelling, especially for the material used in furniture and crafts.

Noun

1. a switch made from the stems of the rattan palms