japan

See also: Japan, Japán, and japán

English

Sign advertising a japanned toilet stand

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.

Derived terms

• japannery
• japanware

Verb

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

1. To varnish (something) with japan.

   Coordinate term: ebonize

   • 1928, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, chapter XI, in Lady Chatterley’s Lover, [Germany?]: Privately printed, →OCLC, page 241:

     Among other monstrosities in this lumber room was a largeish black japanned box, excellently and ingeniously made some sixty or seventy years ago, and fitted with every imaginable object.

     An adjective use.

   • 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.

2. (UK, religion, slang, obsolete) To ordain (someone).
   • 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 — […]

Derived terms

• japanner
• rejapan
• unjapanned

Translations

to varnish (something) with japan

• Dutch: japan
• French: japon (fr) m
• German: Japan (de)
• Irish: seapán
• Javanese: jepang
• Swedish: japanera (sv)
• Turkish:

  Ottoman Turkish: روغن اورمق (rugan vurmak)

References

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

Swedish

Etymology

Japan +‎ -an

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /jaˈpɑːn/

Noun

japan c

1. A person from Japan.

Declension

Declension of japan

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	japan	japans
	definite	japanen	japanens
plural	indefinite	japaner	japaners
	definite	japanerna	japanernas

Related terms

• japanska