japan

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See also: japán, Japan, and Japán

English

Sign advertising a japanned toilet stand
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Etymology

From Japan, due to this varnishing process being an imitation of East Asian processes. Sense “to ordain” in reference to the black clothes worn by the clergy.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /d͡ʒəˈpæn/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -æn

Noun

japan (countable and uncountable, plural japans)

  1. A hard black enamel varnish containing asphalt.
    Coordinate term: ebonization
    • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Much Change in a Little Time”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. , volume I, London: Henry Colburn, , →OCLC, page 64:
      My own apartment, however, I was allowed to enter; and very pretty, I must say, it is. It is hung with Indian-silk, where the brightest of birds, and the gayest of flowers, disport themselves on a white ground. The screens and dressing-table are of black japan, while the mirror is set in exquisite silver filigree work, of which material are also the boxes of my toilette.
  2. Lacquerware.

Verb

japan (third-person singular simple present japans, present participle japanning, simple past and past participle japanned)

  1. (transitive) To varnish with japan.
    • 1971, Gwen White, Antique Toys And Their Background, page 183:
      A Zoetrope in the same sale fetched 26 guineas. The revolving drum, 12 inches in diameter, was black japanned, on a turned wooden base, and there were many coloured strips.
    Coordinate term: ebonize
  2. (UK, slang, transitive, obsolete, religion) To ordain.
    • 1826, George Colman, The Connoisseur, page 179:
      Jack, hearing that I was in this part of the world, sent me a very hearty letter, informing me, that he had been double-japanned (as he called it) about a year ago, and was the present incumbent of — []

Translations

References

  • japan”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
  • John Camden Hotten (1873) The Slang Dictionary

Swedish

Etymology

Japan +‎ -an

Pronunciation

Noun

japan c

  1. A person from Japan.

Declension