Word
panama
Phoneticspana·ma
US/ˈpænəˌmɑ/
UK/pˈænəmˌɑː/
Definitions
01the country
n. a country in Central America that has a famous canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
n. a republic in Central America, situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America.
“Many ships travel through the canal in Panama to save time on their journey.”
“The strategic importance of Panama increased significantly after the completion of the canal, which revolutionized global maritime trade routes.”
02a type of hat
n. a light-coloured hat made from straw that people often wear in hot weather.
n. a traditional brimmed straw hat of Ecuadorian origin, typically made from the plaited leaves of the toquilla palm plant.
“He wore a white linen suit and a panama to stay cool at the garden party.”
“The gentleman adjusted his panama to shield his eyes from the midday sun while strolling along the promenade.”
Usage
Often capitalized as 'Panama hat' but can appear in lowercase when referring to the style.
Synonyms
Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish Panamá, of unknown origin. Possibly from a Chibchan language such as Kuna, or another indigenous language of the region (such as Cueva, which is barely attested and is now extinct).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.