Shan
/ʃɑːn
/noun (plural same or Shans)
1A member of a people living mainly in northern Burma (Myanmar) and adjacent parts of southern China.The Shans migrated into Myanmar from China, to the north, many centuries ago, and settled in the valleys....
- A village settled by the Shans from Burma's Shan States in the early nineteenth century, Khun Yuam transformed itself into a small trading town.
- The Allies supported Burmese guerrillas (largely composed of Kachins, Karens, Shans, Chins, Lushais, and Palaungs), who were able to wreak havoc behind Japanese lines.
2 [mass noun] The language of the Shan, related to Thai and having about 2.5 million speakers.Many Shans speak some of the Yunnanese dialect of Chinese and some Burmese, as well as Shan.
adjective
Relating to the Shan or their language.Children who do attend schools run by the Burmese government are likely to learn in Burmese rather than the Shan language....
- It was in Shan state, a remote area that's on the periphery of government control, so they were very critical of the government and didn't feel like they were going to get in any trouble for speaking out.
- Two nights before we left Myanmar we had the privilege of staying in an army outfit in a jungle in Shan state; a great experience.
Origin
Burmese.