Rattan \Rat*tan"\, n. [Malay r[=o]tan.]
[Written also ratan.]
(Bot.)
One of the long slender flexible stems of several species of
palms of the genus Calamus, mostly East Indian, though some
are African and Australian. They are exceedingly tough, and
are used for walking sticks, wickerwork, chairs and seats of
chairs, cords and cordage, and many other purposes.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |