japan
japan Lexical Profile
japan Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An island country located in East Asia in the northwest Pacific Ocean, known for its extensive archipelago and rich cultural history.
A hard, dark, glossy enamel or varnish used to coat metal or wood, originally developed to imitate Asian lacquerware.
"The antique sewing machine was restored with a fresh coat of black japan to protect the cast iron."
• verb
To coat with a hard, dark enamel or lacquer (especially wood or metal).
"The craftsman carefully japanned the wooden cabinet, giving it a brilliant and durable black finish."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the East Asian country, 'Japan' is capitalized as a proper noun. When referring to the black enamel, lacquerware, or the act of applying it, 'japan' is typically written in lowercase.
• Rhymes for japan
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Named after the country Japan, from Portuguese 'Japão', derived from Malay 'Jepang', ultimately from a Chinese dialectal pronunciation of the characters for 'origin of the sun'. The lowercase lacquerware sense emerged in the 17th century because such varnished goods were originally imported from Japan.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.