dempa'an noun English. A drainboard in the cooking area of a house, usu. built out beyond the lower wall and inside the upper wall, so that what is under it is outside the house, also oft. associated with storage shelves for kitchenware. Example sentence: Subanen. Buus, sa' metubusa maan, ki pinggan kiin, ugasay mu, dayun mu betangay tug dempa'an, adun ndi' dila'an gitu'. English. In a while, when you finish eating, wash those dishes, and then put them on the shelf, so they won't be licked by a dog.