tuan

1

/ (ˈtuːɑːn) /


noun
  1. (in Malay-speaking countries) sir; lord: a form of address used as a mark of respect

Origin of tuan

1
Malay

Words Nearby tuan

British Dictionary definitions for tuan (2 of 2)

tuan2

/ (ˈtuːən, ˈtjuː-) /


noun
  1. a flying phalanger, Phascogale tapoatafa, of Australia. It is about the size of a rat, bluish grey in colour, brush-tailed, arboreal, and nocturnal: Also called: wambenger, brush-tailed phascogale, phascogale

Origin of tuan

2
C19: from a native Australian language

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

How to use tuan in a sentence

  • He had sent for young men, readily spared at this season, and meantime he asked the tuan to rest.

    The Woodlands Orchids | Frederick Boyle
  • The queen had tuan for herself, and ate his fish form, with the result that she gave birth to the sage as her son.

    Indian Myth and Legend | Donald Alexander Mackenzie
  • Please help yourselves to water (to guests of various ranks)— Datoh-datoh, tuan-tuan, inche-inche sakalian, sila berayer.

    A Manual of the Malay language | William Edward Maxwell
  • Ha ba, ha ba tuan, and perhamba are used by persons of inferior rank when addressing superiors.

    A Manual of the Malay language | William Edward Maxwell
  • I wish to talk a little with you— Sahaya handak chakap sadikit dengan tuan.

    A Manual of the Malay language | William Edward Maxwell