What does rattan mean?
Rattan is a noun for a tropical climbing palm and, by extension, for the slender, jointed stems taken from such palms. The stems are valued for being light, flexible, and easy to shape, and they are used in basketry, furniture, walking canes, and many other crafted objects. “Rattan” can refer to the plant itself, the raw material, or an object made from it, so a phrase such as “a rattan chair” may mean a chair made from rattan stems or from another material made to resemble them. The word is common in descriptions of furniture and handicrafts and is not usually pejorative. It should not be confused with wicker, which more specifically describes woven strands or the material formed by weaving them. Rattan is related to the Malay term rotan, from which the English word was borrowed.
A tropical climbing palm with long, flexible, jointed stems; also the stems themselves or an object made from them.
"They replaced the old chairs with lightweight rattan furniture."
Rattan is used both as a mass noun for the material and as a countable noun for individual canes or related objects.
To furnish or make something with rattan; also, in some older usage, to beat or chastise someone with a rattan.
"The old chair was rattaned by a local craftsperson."
The verb is relatively uncommon in modern English, and its chastising sense is chiefly literary or historical.
Rattan is commonly an uncountable noun when referring to the material or plant. The plural rattans is used for individual canes or distinct rattan objects.
"The workshop stored several long rattans beside the tools."
Rattan is a tropical climber whose stems can be bent and woven into everything from walking sticks to entire pieces of furniture.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rattan come from?
The English word rattan was borrowed from Malay rotan, the name of the tropical palm whose stems are used for weaving and manufacture. The borrowing dates from the period of European trade with Southeast Asia, in the eighteenth century. Related forms include rotang and ratan, reflecting variants found in the source language and earlier English usage.
Related word forms
How rattan is actually used
The word is generally neutral and refers both to the plant and to its usable stems or objects made from them. In English, it is common in contexts involving furniture, basketry, and handicrafts.
Easily confused with rattan
Rattan names the plant, its stems, or objects made from those stems, whereas wicker usually refers to woven material made from flexible plant strands.
Cane is a broader term for plant stems used for walking sticks, weaving, or furniture, while rattan specifically identifies the tropical palm and its characteristic jointed stems.