やんす

Originally, occupational dialect of prostitutes in Kamigata (Kansai region) at the beginning of the early modern period. Later generalized, and became limited to the usage of politeness.

There are some theories about the etymology; said to be changed from the following phrases:

• あります (arimasu)
• やしゃります (yasharimasu)
• あんす (ansu)

やんす • (yansu) 

1. (auxiliary, obsolete, dialectal) indicating respect [17th–18th c.]

   Synonym: なさる (nasaru)

   • 1749, Takeda Izumo, Miyoshi Shōraku, Namiki Sōsuke, Futatsu Chōchō Kuruwa Nikki (双蝶々曲輪日記):

     ほほこれは皆(みな)若(わか)い衆(しゅう)、寒(かん)取(どり)前(まへ)で精(せい)が出(で)やんすよ

     ho-ho kore wa mina wakai shū, kandori mae de sei ga deyansu yo

     Ho-ho, there're all young fellows; you would work hard toward kandori [sumo practice in the cold].

2. (auxiliary, dated, now dialectal) indicating politeness [from 17th c.]

   Synonym: ます (masu)

   • 1799, Shiba Shinkō, Shinagawa Yōji (品川楊枝):

     今(いま)はかういふ顔(かほ)がはやりやんす

     ima wa kō iu kao ga hayariyansu

     Now this kind of face is popular.

Attached to the 連用形 (“adverbial form”) of conjugated words and で (de, 連用形 (“adverbial form”) of だ (da)).

• でやんす (de yansu)
• 通(とお)りゃんせ (tōryanse)

• ありんす (arinsu)