bantayan
|ban-ta-yan|
/banˈta.jan/
(bantay)
guard / watch
Etymology
'bantay' originates from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian / Proto-Austronesian roots (reconstructed as *bantaw/*bantay), where the root meant 'to guard' or 'to watch'.
'bantay' developed in various Malayo-Polynesian languages with similar forms and meanings; in Tagalog the root 'bantay' produced the derived form 'bantayan' (with the locative/verb-forming suffix '-an') meaning both 'place of watching' and 'to be watched/guarded'.
Initially it meant 'to guard/watch'; over time it retained that core sense while also extending to mean 'a place for watching' (watchtower/guard post) through derivation.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a watchtower, lookout, or guard post — a place from which people keep watch.
The bantayan on the coast warned the villagers of the approaching storm.
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Noun 2
a guarded area or place designated for protection or surveillance (derived sense of the verb + -an).
They built a small bantayan near the entrance of the village.
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Last updated: 2026/01/12 22:27