Straits Settlements

American  

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. a former British crown colony in SE Asia: included the settlements of Singapore, Penang, Malacca, and Labuan.

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Straits Settlements British  

/ streɪts /

plural noun

1. (formerly) a British crown colony of SE Asia that included Singapore, Penang, Malacca, Labuan, and some smaller islands

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Example Sentences

Others plough the Pacific to Australia, India and the Straits Settlements, come back deep-laden with rubber, tin, wool, hemp.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Sultan of Johore soon discovered reports were reaching London that he was making an issue of marrying Miss Hill, had engaged in a "serious quarrel" with the Governor of Straits Settlements.

From Time Magazine Archive

Up from lush Penang Island in the Straits Settlements last week climbed a four-motored Imperial Airways airplane.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last week they received this note from Singapore, Straits Settlements, about 14,000 miles away: Of the thousands of different types of fish, only five can produce electricity.

From Time Magazine Archive

As for Hongkong, the Straits Settlements, Ceylon, India, and all the colonies of the empire, they would have been Germany's for the occupation.

From The Story of the Great War, Volume I (of 8) Introductions; Special Articles; Causes of War; Diplomatic and State Papers by Churchill, Allen L. (Allen Leon)