Plural of dato; in Philippine and Malaysian cultures, a chief or leader of a tribe or community, also spelled 'datu' or 'datto'.
From Malay 'dato' or 'datuk,' an honorific title of Southeast Asian origin. The word entered English through colonial contact with Malay-speaking regions in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The title 'dato' is still used today in Malaysia and the Philippines as an official honor for respected leaders and business figures, showing how colonial-era words can remain part of modern official culture.
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