[f. JAPAN sb. and v. + -ER1.]
I. † 1. A native of Japan; a Japanese. † b. A Japanese ship. Obs.
1614. J. Saris, Voy. to Japan (Hakl. Soc.), 198. The Towne where the Iapanners haue their chiefe residence and Mart, is called Matchma.
1673. Dryden, Amboyna, V. i. With the aid Of ten Japanners, all of them unarmed.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, II. xiii. Two Japanners, I mean ships from Japan. Ibid. (1725), Voy. round World (1840), 100. Seven or eight Chinese or Japanners.
1764. Mem. G. Psalmanazar, 213. The young Japaner had been presented to the Archbishop of Canterbury.
II. 2. One who japans, one who follows the trade of varnishing with japan.
1695. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), III. 513. To find out the author, who is a japanner.
c. 1790. Imison, Sch. Arts, II. 1. Take japanners gold size of the best sort.
1846. Art-Union Jrnl., 59. Formerly the japanner was limited to iron plates.
† b. humorous. A shoe-black. Obs.
1725. De Foe, Everybody’s Business (1841), 20. These are called the black-guard, who black your honour’s shoes, and incorporate themselves under the title of the Worshipful Company of Japanners.
1734. Pope, Hor. Ep., I. i. 156. They … Prefer a new Japanner to their shoes.
