makassar
makassar Lexical Profile
• noun
A major port city on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, serving as the capital of the South Sulawesi province.
"The bustling harbor of Makassar has been a vital center for trade in eastern Indonesia for centuries."
An ethnic group native to the southern part of the South Sulawesi peninsula in Indonesia.
"She studied the maritime traditions and ancestral heritage of the Makassar."
The Austronesian language spoken by the Makassar people of Indonesia.
"Linguists traveling to Sulawesi often study Makassar alongside Buginese."
Word Nuance & Usage
Historically, the name was popularized in the West (often spelled 'Macassar') due to Macassar oil, a 19th-century hair grooming product that led to the invention of the 'antimacassar' to protect furniture upholstery.
• Rhymes for makassar
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Indonesian 'Makassar', originating from the native Makassarese name 'Mangkasara'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.