Mindanao

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A large island in the southern Philippines known for its diverse cultures and natural landscapes
2. The second-largest island in the Philippines, characterized by mountainous regions and rich biodiversity
3. An important socio-economic region in the Philippines, featuring multiple indigenous groups and vibrant ecosystems

Etymology: Mindanao, the second-largest island in the Philippines, takes its name from a people rather than from any native word for the island itself. Spanish colonists used "Mindanao" as a shortened form of "Maguindánao," the name of the Maguindanao people who lived along the island's rivers and the Cotabato region. The fuller name, in turn, comes from the Maguindanao language, where the people were called "Magindanaw," a word that refers to a flood or the flooded lowlands where they settled. So the island's name is essentially a label for the inhabitants of a river-plain territory, carried over from one people to a whole landmass. The Spanish clipping, dropping the middle syllables, is what gave the modern form its shape.

Synonyms: Mindanao island, Philippine island