japan

From Japan, due to this varnishing process being an imitation of East Asian processes. Sense “to ordain” in reference to the black clothes worn by the clergy.

• IPA^(key): /d͡ʒəˈpæn/

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• Rhymes: -æn

japan (countable and uncountable, plural japans)

1. A hard black enamel varnish containing asphalt.

   Coordinate term: ebonization

   • 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:

     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.

2. Lacquerware.

japan (third-person singular simple present japans, present participle japanning, simple past and past participle japanned)

1. (transitive) To varnish with japan.

   Coordinate term: ebonize

2. (UK, slang, transitive, obsolete, religion) To ordain.
   • 1826, George Colman, The Connoisseur, page 179:

     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 — […]

• “japan”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• John Camden Hotten (1873) The Slang Dictionary

Japan +‎ -an

• IPA^(key): /jaˈpɑːn/

japan c

1. A person from Japan.

• japanska