chinaman

See also: Chinaman

English

Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

Etymology tree

English china

Proto-Indo-European *mon-

Proto-Germanic *mann-

Proto-West Germanic *mann

Old English mann

Middle English man

Middle English -man

English -man

English chinaman

From china (“porcelain”) + -man.

Noun

chinaman (plural chinamen)

1. (obsolete) A dealer in porcelain (china). [18th–19th c.]

   Coordinate term: chinawoman

Etymology 2

From Chinaman, a dated, now offensive term for a Chinese person. Compare Chinese (“unfamiliar, unexpected”). Named in reference to Ellis Achong, a West Indian player of Chinese descent.

Noun

chinaman (plural chinamen)

1. (cricket, dated) A left-arm unorthodox bowling action (left-arm wrist-spin).
   • 2011, Shehan Karunatilaka, Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew, Jonathan Cape, page 103:

     Several cricketers came up to them and asked Pradeep about his effortless action mimicry and his promising chinaman bowling.

2. (cricket) A spin bowler who uses such an action.
3. (cricket) A ball delivered with such an action.

References

• “Chinaman”, in Collins English Dictionary, 2011–present.
• James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Chinaman”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume II (C), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 351, column 3.

Anagrams

• chainman