Etymology

chinaman

C3H4I1N1A1M3A1N1

Today it means: A dealer in porcelain (china). Full definition →

First used 20th c.Chinese 中國人 /中国人
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chinaman · noun1

From china (“porcelain”) + -man.

chinaman · noun2

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.

Chinaman · noun3

  1. Chinese · calque of中國人 /中国人
  2. English todayChinaman

From Chinese Pidgin English. Calque of Chinese 中國人 /中国人 (Zhōngguórén) ("China + -man"). Applied also to ships by analogy with East Indiaman.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 20th c. Addiction from a narcotic, especially heroin.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.