sb. (prop. pl.) Also 7 dgen, 9 ginn, dschin, djin, jin. [a. Arab. jinn, collect. pl., demons, spirits, angels; sing. jinnī (see next).] In Mohammedan demonology, an order of spirits lower than the angels, said to have the power of appearing in human and animal forms, and to exercise supernatural influence over men. More commonly used as a sing. to denote one of this class.
a. (as sing.) 1684. Tavernier’s Trav. II. 67. Some Dgen or evil Spirit.
1822. Byron, Juan, VI. xlviii. Giaours, and Ginns, and Gouls in hosts.
1838. Torrens, Arab. Nts., I. 16. Tale of the Merchant and the Jin [1841 Lane I. 44 Story of the Merchant and the Jinnee].
a. 1845. Hood, Drop of Gin, i. Ghost and vampyre, demon and Jin!
1859. P. Beaton, Jews in the East, I. ix. 317. The Dschins grew weary or refractory.
b. (as pl.) 1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. Notes to Introd. 30. The species of Jinn is said to have been created some thousands of years before Adam.
1884. J. Payne, Tales fr. Arabic, I. 272. Arise, let us depart this place, for it is full of Jinn and Marids.
