annamite
|an-na-mite|
/ˈænəmaɪt/
from Annam (central Vietnam)
Etymology
'annamite' originates from French, specifically the word 'annamite', where 'Annam' referred to the historical region 'Annam' (from Sino-Vietnamese 'An Nam') and the suffix '-ite' indicated 'person or thing from'.
'annamite' changed from French 'annamite' (derived from the place-name 'Annam') and entered English in the 19th century during contacts with French Indochina; it was used to denote people or things from that region and appears in historical texts and biological names.
Initially, it meant 'a person or thing from Annam'; over time the term became dated and has largely been replaced by 'Vietnamese' in modern usage, though it persists in historical contexts and in some species' names (e.g., fauna of the Annamite Range).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person from Annam (a historical term for inhabitants of that region); now considered dated or historical.
Early 20th-century reports referred to several annamites living in the port town.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
relating to Annam, a historical region of central Vietnam (often used in older or historical contexts).
The museum displayed annamite textiles collected during the colonial era.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/15 02:37