Arab Street

Arab Street

Arab Street (Chinese: 阿拉伯街) is the name of a road and neighbourhood in Singapore. There are two explanations to exist of the road name. The first being that the area was owned by an Arab merchant, Syed Ali bin Mohamed Al Junied and the site of an Arab "kampong", hence the name being known as Arab Street. The Chinese referred the street as "jiau a koi" (Javanese street), in the view of the Javanese who used to be the majority inhabitants of the area. Spices, textiles, basketry items and Sonkoks are sold along this row of shophoses with five-foot way at Arab Street. In Tamil, Arab Street is known as "pukadai sadkku" (flower shops street), because of shops selling homegrown flowers, lime and other goods sold by Javanese women. In 1889, a huge fire occurred.

The other explanation is tied to the situation already preexisted at the time of the nation's founding father Sir Stamford Raffles. When Raffles was planing the outline of areas to be allocated for government, as opposed to commercial and residential use, a community of Bugis seamen and merchants already existed near the Sultan's palace. He therefore allocated the area to them, near where their boats were sheltered in the river, bringing their annual cargo to a barter basis, that is how the name Bugis Street came about. The Arabs and other Mohammedan traders (Chulias) were also allocated to areas near Kampong Glam.

References

*"Toponymics: A Study of Singapore Street Names, 2004, Eastern University Press, ISBN 981-210-364-3"


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Arab street — noun Pan Arab public opinion, Arabic sentiments, pan Muslim sentiments …   Wiktionary

  • Street Arab — Street Street (str[=e]t), n. [OE. strete, AS. str[=ae]t, fr. L. strata (sc. via) a paved way, properly fem. p. p. of sternere, stratum, to spread; akin to E. strew. See {Strew}, and cf. {Stratum}, {Stray}, v. & a.] 1. Originally, a paved way or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Street — (str[=e]t), n. [OE. strete, AS. str[=ae]t, fr. L. strata (sc. via) a paved way, properly fem. p. p. of sternere, stratum, to spread; akin to E. strew. See {Strew}, and cf. {Stratum}, {Stray}, v. & a.] 1. Originally, a paved way or road; a public… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Street broker — Street Street (str[=e]t), n. [OE. strete, AS. str[=ae]t, fr. L. strata (sc. via) a paved way, properly fem. p. p. of sternere, stratum, to spread; akin to E. strew. See {Strew}, and cf. {Stratum}, {Stray}, v. & a.] 1. Originally, a paved way or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Street door — Street Street (str[=e]t), n. [OE. strete, AS. str[=ae]t, fr. L. strata (sc. via) a paved way, properly fem. p. p. of sternere, stratum, to spread; akin to E. strew. See {Strew}, and cf. {Stratum}, {Stray}, v. & a.] 1. Originally, a paved way or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • street person — Street Street (str[=e]t), n. [OE. strete, AS. str[=ae]t, fr. L. strata (sc. via) a paved way, properly fem. p. p. of sternere, stratum, to spread; akin to E. strew. See {Strew}, and cf. {Stratum}, {Stray}, v. & a.] 1. Originally, a paved way or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Arab — Synonyms and related words: Bedouin, Bohemian, Romany, Zigeuner, beach bum, beachcomber, beggar, bo, bum, bummer, dogie, gamin, gamine, guttersnipe, gypsy, hobo, homeless waif, idler, landloper, lazzarone, loafer, losel, mudlark, nomad, piker,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • Street of the Prophets — Street sign from the British Mandate era. Street of the Prophets (Hebrew: רחוב הנביאים‎, Rehov HaNevi im) is an east west axis road in Jerusalem beginning outside Damascus Gate and ending at Davidka Square. Located to the north of Jaffa Road …   Wikipedia

  • Street food — is food obtainable from a streetside vendor, often from a makeshift or portable stall. While some street foods are regional, many are not, having spread beyond their region of origin. The food and green groceries sold in farmers markets may also… …   Wikipedia

  • Arab Jews — (Arabic: اليهود العرب Al Yahūd al Arab , Hebrew: יהודים ערבים Yehudim Aravim )is a controversial term referring to Jews living in the Arab World, or Jews descended from such persons.cite web|title=Ishaq al Shami and the Predicament of the Arab… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”