japan

plural japans

1. countableuncountableA hard black enamel varnish containing asphalt.

   1 more example

   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.

   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

2. countableuncountableLacquerware.

present singular third person japans · participle present japanning · participle past japanned · past japanned

1. transitiveTo varnish (something) with japan.

   He fastens his plates by fine srews in any waving or curving lines, and then japans them in all the most varied and beautiful shades.

   1847, editorial staff, “Veneering Metal Plates”, in Scientific American, series 1, Volume 3, Issue 9, page 68

   3 more examples

   Piled against the wall were certain boxes of black japanned tin, which had just been sent to him from London. At any other time he would certainly not have left them unopened. For they contained his robes of the Garter.

   1911 October 26, Max Beerbohm, Zuleika Dobson, or, An Oxford Love Story, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: John Lane Company, published 1912, →OCLC

   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.

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

   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.

   1971, Gwen White, Antique Toys And Their Background, page 183

2. UKobsoleteslangtransitivelifestyleTo ordain (someone).

   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 — […]

   1826, George Colman, The Connoisseur, page 179

alternative obsolete Giapan · alternative obsolete Japonia · alternative obsolete Japony · alternative obsolete Japon

1. A country in East Asia. Capital and largest city: Tokyo.

   In particular, Kumamoto prefecture in southwestern Japan is quickly becoming a hotbed for tech investment from companies including TSMC and Fujifilm Holdings Corp (FUJIF).

   2023 May 18, Reuters, “Chipmakers look to Japan as worries about China grow”, in CNN Business

   3 more examples

   Vivian: If you set a picture by Hokusai, or Hokkei, or any of the great native painters, beside a real Japanese gentleman or lady, you will see that there is not the slightest resemblance between them. The actual people who live in Japan are not unlike the general run of English people; that is to say, they are extremely commonplace, and have nothing curious or extraordinary about them. In fact the whole of Japan is a pure invention. There is no such country, there are no such people... if you desire to see a Japanese effect, you will not behave like a tourist and go to Tokio. On the contrary, you will stay at home and steep yourself in the work of certain Japanese artists, and then, when you have absorbed the spirit of their style, and caught their imaginative manner of vision, you will go some afternoon and sit in the Park or stroll down Piccadilly, and if you cannot see an absolutely Japanese effect there, you will not see it anywhere.

   1889 Jan., Oscar Wilde, The Decay of Lying: An Observation", The Nineteenth Century

   Japan’s very interesting. Some people think it copies things. I don’t think that anymore. I think what they do is reinvent things. They will get something that’s already been invented and study it until they thoroughly understand it. In some cases, they understand it better than the original inventor... That strategy works only when what they’re working with isn’t changing very much—the stereo industry and the automobile industry are two examples. When the target is moving quickly, they find it very difficult...

   1985 February, Steve Jobs, interview with David Sheff, Playboy

   Nolan: You do know Japan have expressed concern? Douglas: What, the whole country? Nolan: No, not the whole... Mr Yamamoto. Douglas: He's important, isn't he? Nolan: He's the major shareholder.

   2008 November 21, Graham Linehan, The IT Crowd, Season 3, Episode 1

   Synonyms: Dawnland, JP, JPN, Jap., Japonia, Jpn., Land of the Rising Sun, Nihon

2. An archipelago of East Asia; in full, Japanese archipelago.