Added 9 October 2026
japan
/d͡ʒəˈpæn/ noun
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about japan at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A string of more than 3,000 islands to the east of Asia extending 1,300 miles between the Sea of Japan and the western Pacific Ocean.
- A constitutional monarchy occupying the Japanese Archipelago; a world leader in electronics and automobile manufacture and ship building.
- Lacquerware decorated and varnished in the Japanese manner with a glossy durable black lacquer.
verb
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)