/ra tan", reuh-/ , n.
1. Also called rattan palm . any of various climbing palms of the genus Calamus or allied genera.
2. the tough stems of such palms, used for wickerwork, canes, etc.
3. a stick or switch of this material.
Also, ratan .
[ 1650-60; by uncert. mediation rotan, alleged to derive from rout scrape off, with -an nominalizing suffix ]