Batak

¹ American  

[buh-tahk, bah-] / bəˈtɑk, bɑ- /

noun

Bataks plural

1. a member of a diverse group of Indigenous peoples chiefly inhabiting north-central Sumatra.

2. any of the Austronesian languages spoken by the Batak in Sumatra.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Batak of Sumatra.

Batak ² American  

[buh-tahk, bah-] / bəˈtɑk, bɑ- /

noun

Bataks plural

1. a member of an Indigenous mountain-dwelling people from northeastern Palawan in the Philippines.

2. the Austronesian language spoken by the Batak in Palawan.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Batak of Palawan.

Etymology

Origin of Batak¹

First recorded in 1810–20; from Batak (a subgroup of Austronesian languages spoken in the Indonesian province of North Sumatra and adjacent areas); a self-designation

Origin of Batak²

First recorded in 1900–05; from Tagbanwa, Tagbanua, Tagbanuwa (any of three Austronesian languages that are not mutually intelligible)

Example Sentences

—Delima Silalahi, a Batak woman from North Sumatra, Indonesia, who organized Indigenous communities across the country to advocate for their rights to traditional forests.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 24, 2023

BBC said Reynhard was born in 1983 into a conservative Christian family, part of the Batak tribe from the island of Sumatra.

From Fox News • Jan. 7, 2020

The oldest of four children, Sinaga was born in 1983 into a conservative Christian family, part of the Batak tribe from the island of Sumatra.

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2020

The elders debate in a mix of languages – Batak and bahasa Indonesia – while sipping tea and planning how they will resume the fight the next day.

From The Guardian • Sep. 4, 2017

The Batak are not very numerous; their villages have been decimated by ravages of smallpox during the past five years.

From Negritos of Zambales by Reed, William Allan