Kalimantan

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The Indonesian part of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia ; the wider region of the island that Indonesia controls, covering most of its land area
2. The southern and central part of Borneo that belongs to Indonesia ; a large territory on the island, home to tropical rainforests and many rivers
3. The portion of Borneo under Indonesian administration in Southeast Asia ; a vast area of the island known for its forests and waterways

Etymology: Kalimantan is the Indonesian name for the part of Borneo that Indonesia controls, so it is a regional name rather than the name of the island itself. The island as a whole is called Borneo, a name that came to Europeans through Brunei, the sultanate on the north coast. Indonesia uses Kalimantan for its five provinces on the island, and the name entered English from Indonesian. A popular explanation says the name combines the Malay "kali" (river) with "intan" (diamond), supposedly meaning "river of diamonds." Borneo does have diamond deposits, which makes the story appealing, but the explanation is not well supported, and the name's true origin is uncertain.