Japonian

comparative more Japonian · superlative most Japonian

1. obsoleteSynonym of Japanese (“of or relating to Japan”).

   After his death the Japonian Army withdrew from Coria.

   1738, Curious Relations: or, The Entertaining Correspondent […], volume II, London: […] [F]or G. Smith, […] and sold by T[homas] Cooper, […], page 278; quoted in “† Japo·nian, a. and sb.”, in James A[ugustus] H[enry] Murray [et al.], editors, A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume V (H–K), London: Clarendon Press, 1884–1928, →OCLC, page 553, column 2

   2 more examples

   This appeared at Frenoiama, a famous Vniuerſitie of thoſe Bonzij, nine miles from Meaco, wherein eight hundred yeares paſt, a Iaponian King had erected three thouſand and eight hundred Temples, with houſes adioined for the Bonzij: […]

   1613, Samuel Purchas, “[Asia.] Of the Islands of Iapon, and Their Religions.”, in Purchas His Pilgrimage. Or Relations of the World and the Religions Observed in All Ages and Places Discouered, from the Creation vnto this Present. […], London: […] William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, […], →OCLC, book V (Of the East-Indies: And of the Seas and Ilands about Asia, with Their Religions), page 443

   Induſtrious of the needle and the chart / They run full ſail to their Japponian Mart: […]

   1687, [John Dryden], “The Second Part”, in The Hind and the Panther. A Poem, in Three Parts, 2nd edition, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC, page 64

   Synonyms: Japanese

plural Japonians

1. obsoleteSynonym of Japanese (“a native or inhabitant of Japan”).

   And the Iaponians, are longer liv’d, than the Chineſes; […]

   1638, Francis [Bacon], translated by W[illiam] R[awley], “Length and Shortnesse of Life in Man. The Historie.”, in History Naturall and Experimentall, of Life and Death. Or Of the Prolongation of Life. […], London: […] Iohn Haviland for William Lee, and Humphrey Mosley, →OCLC, paragraph 25, page 141

   2 more examples

   [T]he ſayd gunnes beeing able to hurt but a ſmall diſtance off, and the Iaponians being furniſhed with bꝛazen oꝛdinance vnknowen vnto the Corayans, they pꝛeſently dꝛaue them from their walles, […]

   1600, Richard Hakluyt, “The Second Testimonie Containing the Huge Leuies and Preparations of Quabacondono, […]”, in The Third and Last Volume of the Voyages, Nauigations, Traffiques, and Discoueries of the English Nation, […], 2nd edition, London: […] George Bishop, Ralfe Newberie, and Robert Barker, →OCLC, page 857

   His Neighbours ſlight him, and there’s not a Man, / But looks as ſtrange, as a Japonian.

   1679, [Charles Cotton], The Confinement. A Poem, […], London: […] [F]or C. C. […] by J. C., →OCLC, page 32

   Synonyms: Japanese