martaban: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2+ / Extremely Rare / ArchaicFormal, Historical, Technical (Archaeology, Antiques)
Quick answer
What does “martaban” mean?
A large, wide-mouthed earthenware jar or container, traditionally from Asia, used for storing liquids or pickled foods.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, wide-mouthed earthenware jar or container, traditionally from Asia, used for storing liquids or pickled foods.
A term historically used for large, glazed storage jars exported from the region of Martaban (now Mottama, Myanmar), which were traded widely and became synonymous with such containers. In modern usage, it is a rare, archaic, or historical term, primarily encountered in texts dealing with archaeology, antique collecting, or historical trade.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant contemporary difference; the term is equally archaic in both varieties. It may be slightly more familiar to British speakers due to historical colonial connections in the region.
Connotations
Carries connotations of antiquity, trade history, archaeology, and specific material culture. Neutral in tone, but highly specialised.
Frequency
Vanishingly rare in both varieties. Might appear in museum catalogues, academic historical papers, or descriptions of antiquities.
Grammar
How to Use “martaban” in a Sentence
[Verb] + martaban: excavate/discover/collect/a martaban[Adjective] + martaban: (large, ancient, glazed) martabanmartaban + [Prepositional Phrase]: martaban from Burma/ the 15th centuryVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “martaban” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in archaeology, anthropology, and history papers discussing Southeast Asian trade goods and material culture.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Used in museum studies, antique dealing, and ceramic archaeology to describe a specific class of artefacts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “martaban”
- Misspelling as 'Martaban', 'Martaban', or 'Martaban'.
- Using it in a modern context, e.g., 'I keep flour in a martaban.'
- Confusing it with a general term like 'jug' without the historical specificity.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an extremely rare, archaic, and highly specialised term used almost exclusively in historical and archaeological contexts.
No, it would be inaccurate and confusing. The term refers specifically to a historical type of jar from a particular region.
It is a toponym, derived from Martaban (now Mottama), a port city in Myanmar (Burma) from which such jars were historically exported.
Yes, they are held in museum collections worldwide, such as the British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum, often listed in their Asian ceramics or trade goods collections.
A large, wide-mouthed earthenware jar or container, traditionally from Asia, used for storing liquids or pickled foods.
Martaban is usually formal, historical, technical (archaeology, antiques) in register.
Martaban: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɑːtəˈbæn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɑːrtəˈbæn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an ancient merchant sailing from MARTAban with a jar so famous the place name became the jar's name.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A (concrete historical object)
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the word 'martaban' MOST likely to be encountered today?