japan
English edit
Etymology edit
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 edit
Noun edit
japan (countable and uncountable, plural japans)
- 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.
- Lacquerware.
Verb edit
japan (third-person singular simple present japans, present participle japanning, simple past and past participle japanned)
- (transitive) To varnish with japan.
- Coordinate term: ebonize
- (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 edit
to varnish with japan
References edit
- “japan”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
- John Camden Hotten (1873) The Slang Dictionary
Swedish edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
japan c
- A person from Japan.
Declension edit
| Declension of japan | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | |||
| Indefinite | Definite | Indefinite | Definite | |
| Nominative | japan | japanen | japaner | japanerna |
| Genitive | japans | japanens | japaners | japanernas |