Also 6 Giapan, 7 Japon. [Like the other European forms (Du., Ger., Da., Sw. Japan, F., Sp. Japon, Pg. Japão, It. Giappone, app. ad. Malay Jăpung, Japang, ad. Chinese Jih-pŭn (= Japanese Ni-pon), ‘sun-rise,’ ‘orient,’ f. jih (Jap. ni) sun + pŭn (Jap. pon, hon) origin. The earliest form in which the Chinese name reached Europe was app. in Marco Polo’s Chipangu, in Pigafetta Cipanghu. The existing forms represent Pg. Japão and Du. Japan, ‘acquired from the traders at Malacca in the Malay forms’ (Yule).]
I. In primary sense. 1. The insular empire so called, on the east of Asia.
1577. Eden & Willis (title), The History of Trauayle in the VVest and East Indies, and other countreys … As Moscovia, Persia,… China in Cathayo and Giapan.
1613. J. Saris, Voy. to Japan (Hakl. Soc.), 1. January 14, 1612…. We wayed out of the roade of Bantam for Japan.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, V. xiv. 440. That you may at last bee acquainted with Iapon.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xliv. 173. It is the custome of those of Jappon [de Japão] to be exceeding kind and courteous.
† b. A native of Japan, a Japanese. Obs.
1613. J. Saris, Voy. to Japan (Hakl. Soc.), 1. My Companye 81 persons, viz., 74 English, 1 spanniar, 1 Japan, and 5 swarts.
1623. St. Papers Col. 1622–4, 208. The Japons lying in irons.
I. Transferred applications. (Elliptical uses of III.)
2. A varnish of exceptional hardness, which originally came from Japan. The name is now extended to other varnishes of a like sort, esp. to (a) a black varnish obtained by cooking asphaltum with linseed oil, used for producing a black gloss on metal and other materials; (b) a varnish-like liquid made from shellac, linseed-oil and turpentine, and used as a medium in which to grind colors and for drying pigments.
1688. G. Parker & J. Stalker, Treat. Japaning, etc. Pref. True, genuine Japan, like the Salamander, lives in the flames, and stands unalterable, when the wood which was imprison’d in it, is utterly consumed. Ibid., v. 19. Of Black Varnishing or Japan. Ibid., 21. You cannot be over-nice and curious in making white Japan.
1761. Fitzgerald, in Phil. Trans., LII. 150. I had it varnished over several times with strong varnish, or japan.
1851. Illustr. Catal. Gt. Exhib., 624. Japan is applied with a brush.
b. fig. Specious semblance, ‘veneer.’
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Manners, Wks. (Bohn), II. 50. But this japan costs them dear.
1856. Reade, Griffith Gaunt (1887), 34. Thin japan of venal sympathy.
3. Japanese work; work in the Japanese style; esp. work varnished, and adorned with painted or raised figures.
17[?]. Tom Thumb, III. 153, in Hazl., E. P. P., II. 239. The inward parts were all japon [pr. japan].
1742. H. Walpole, Lett. to Mann (1857), I. 192. He little thought that what maintained him for a whole session would scarce serve one of his younger grandsons to buy japan and fans for princesses at Florence!
1798. Jane Austen, Northang. Abb., II. vi. She looked closely at the cabinet…. It was Japan, black and yellow Japan of the handsomest kind. Ibid., II. x. She did not love the sight of japan in any shape.
† b. Applied to a black varnished cane. Obs.
1678. Quack’s Acad., in Harl. Misc. (Park), II. 33. You must always carry a caduceus or conjuring japan in your hand, capped with a civet-box.
4. a. Japanese porcelain. † b. Japanese silk.
1729. Mrs. Delany, Autobiog. & Corr., 5 Dec. (1861), I. 227. I saw nothing extraordinary but the fine japan you so much despised.
1752. Foote, Taste, II. Wks. 1799, I. 22. That piece of China … is the right old Japan of the pea-green kind.
1782. Europ. Mag., II. 68. Where’s the old China? Show me the Japan!
1810. Splendid Follies, I. 170. Miss Betty brought up the rear in a robe of transparent japan.
5. Entom. Short for Japan moth: see 6.
1832. J. Rennie, Consp. Butterfl. & Moths, 195. Adela … The Copper Japan…. Very uncommon. Near London.
III. attrib. and Comb. or as adj.
6. attrib. Of, belonging to, native to, or produced in Japan; passing into adj. = JAPANESE. Frequent in names of natural or artificial products; as Japan anemone, euonymus, gold, porcelain, ware, etc.; Japan clover, a leguminous annual introduced into the southern United States in 1840 from China and Japan; Japan earth = Terra japonica, CATECHU; Japan-ink (see quot. 1848); Japan moth, a moth of the genus Adela.
1673. Ray, Journ. Low C., 28. A Japan Letter, written to the Dutch Governour.
a. 1680. Rochester, Poems (1702), 71. Kiss me thou curious picture of a man; How odd thou art, how pretty, how japan!
1699. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), IV. 581. Monday last the old East India company began their sale of images, japan ware, china.
1718. Quincy, Compl. Disp., 107. Japan Earth … is very austere upon the Palate.
1807. Herschel, in Phil. Trans., XCVII. 209. A ., strip of card, discoloured with japan ink.
1819. G. Samouelle, Entomol. Compend., 249. Japan-moth.
1848. Craig, Japan Ink, a superior kind of black writing ink, generally glossy when dry.
1861. Delamer, Fl. Gard., 128. Pyrus Japonica—Japan Pear,—which bears scarlet blossoms early in spring, is really a Quince, and is now removed to the genus Cydonia.
1882. Garden, 1 April, 213/2. Japan Anemones … seem here to enjoy both the shelter and partial shade.
1884. Miller, Plant-n., Lespedeza,… ‘Hoop-koop’-plant, Japan Clover.
7. attrib. and Comb., in sense 2; Of, pertaining to, or adorned with japan, as japan cabinet, frame, ground, etc. Also similative and parasynthetic as japan-black, japan-headed adjs.
1681. Secr. Serv. Money Chas. & Jas (Camden), 42. For two japan cabinetts … 100.0.0.
1688. G. Parker & J. Stalker, Treat. Japaning, etc. xiii. 36. There are two sorts of Bantam, as well as Japan-work. Ibid. The Japan-Artist works most of all in Gold, and other metals.
1697. Lond. Gaz., No 3250/4. Lost…, a large Silver Japan headed Cane, the ground of it Shagreen, and the Japan Work most of it gilt.
1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull, III. i. She had laid aside your carving, gilding, and japan work, as being too apt to gather dirt.
1855. Mrs. Gaskell, North & S., xiv. Go to my little japan cabinet … and in the second left-hand drawer you will find a packet of letters.
1883. B’ham Daily Post, 12 Oct., 3/2. Advt., Japan-stovers and Polishers, used to Cash-boxes and Coal-vases.
