jap

present singular third person japs · participle present japping · participle past japped · past japped · alternative Jap

1. CanadaUSethnicslangslurtransitiveTo carry out a sneak attack upon (something or somebody).

present singular third person japs · participle present japping · participle past japped · past japped · alternative Jap

1. Northern IrelandScotlandtransitive(of a liquid) To spatter or splash over a surface.

   […] the yelp of the girl as the hot water japped her legs. I The big fellow bore me across the kitchen.

   1947, The Bell, volume 15, page 38

   1 more example

   The oilcloth on the kitchen table / an olive green thing - retro surface / japped with little bits of water / or if you like with bits 'v watter / […]

   2012, Tom Paulin, Love's Bonfire

plural japs · alternative Jap

1. datedethnicoffensiveslangslurThe Japanese language.

   He said it in Japanese, which surprised the boy and stunned Cullen. “You speak Jap?” asked Cullen. “Looks like it, doesn't it?”

   2012, Robert Conroy, Rising Sun

   1 more example

   He petered out under Pitty's savage look: Do you speak Jap? Do you understand the world from inside those bastards' slanty-eyed little head-lopping poem-writing minds?

   2007, Les A. Murray, Fredy Neptune, page 239

2. AustraliaHong KongSingaporeabbreviationclippinginformalClipping of Japanese.

plural Japs

1. USderogatoryethnicslurA Japanese person.

   Among our Japs on board are two returning from Italy, where they have been with silk-worms' eggs, on cards, to sell. This has become a great speculation, and the Japs are going into it with zeal. The Japs almost always—always when they can—take cabin passages ; the Chinese seldom, or never.

   1872, James Brooks, A Seven Months' Run, Up, Down, Around the World

   Synonyms: Japanese, Nip

2. derogatoryhistoricalAn Imperial Japanese Army soldier.

   The Japs had been confident that this first and sudden land grab could be accomplished without their becoming involved in a major war, and they were right.

   1944, Frank Capra, 14 minutes from the start, in Why We Fight: The Battle of China

   1 more example

   ‘The telegram says “missing”.’ ’Nothing about “presumed drowned”?’ Sorrel asked. ’Nothing.’ ’Then he could easily be a prisoner in the hands of the Japs,’ she persisted.

   1944, Noel Streatfeild, Theatre Shoes

1. derogatoryethnicnot comparableslurJapanese; of or pertaining to Japan or its people.

   A soldier might grab his rifle and batter his way to the heart of some Jap position. Back home they gave him all sorts of medals but his companions dismissed him as the poor bastard who finally went Asiatic.

   1951, James Albert Michener, The Voice of Asia, page 6

present singular third person Japs · participle present Japping · participle past Japped · past Japped

1. Alternative letter-case form of jap.

alternative J.A.P. · alternative jap

1. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of Jewish-American/Jewish-Australian princess: overly materialistic and selfish young Jewish American or Australian woman.

   Eww, you've got to check out her creepy friends.. It's like these JAP actress sluts and some American Gladiators reject lunkhead!

   1997, Daniel Clowes, “The Norman Square”, in Ghost World, Jonathan Cape, published 2000, →ISBN, page 49

   1 more example

   It took only the smallest hop of the imagination to picture her as an NYU undergraduate, a well-heeled JAP who did yoga, ate only vegetables and consented quickly to anal sex.

   2009, Geoff Dyer, Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi, Canongate, published 2015, page 212

   Synonyms: kugel

2. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of Jewish-American/Jewish-Australian prince: overly materialistic and selfish young Jewish American or Australian man.

   Synonyms: bagel