Definition: In Singapore, "Singapore" refers to a city-state that was previously known as Malacca and then renamed as Straits Settlements in 1819 by the British colonial powers. The term "Malacca" (the name of the old city) has been used for several centuries. In the 13th century, the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama led his expedition to find a route from India to Europe by sea and discovered what is now Malaysia. The Portuguese named Malacca after their founder, Carlos II of Portugal. However, in 1592, the Sultan of the Malacca was attacked and killed by Spanish soldiers. In retaliation, the Spaniards declared that Malacca would no longer be called Malacca but the "Malayan Islands", which later became Malaysia. In the late 18th century, the Dutch established a colony in Malacca, which gave them control over the entire region. After the Dutch were expelled from Malacca by the British in 1819, the British colonial government re-named the city of Malacca as Singapore and ruled it under the British Raj. The name "Singapore" is derived from the Malay word "seng" which means "to shine". The term "Singapore" was first used in the English language by the British colonial administration in 1950. Today, Singapore refers to a city-state that has been governed by the government of Singapore since independence.
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