Bandar

/ˈbɑːndɑːr/ noun

Definition

A port city or harbor town, especially in India or Southeast Asia; a merchant or trader dealing in goods.

Etymology

From Arabic and Hindi bandar, meaning port or harbor. The word traveled through Indian and Southeast Asian maritime trade, becoming a standard term for port cities in colonial English.

Kelly Says

Bandar Seri Begawan (capital of Brunei) and Bangalore literally have 'bandar' in their names — the word was so important to medieval trade that entire cities were named after their function as trading ports!

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