japans

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of japan.

   The cabinetmaker compared two japans before sealing the tea caddy.

   Imported japans gave the furniture a deep, glossy shine.

   Note

   Because japan is often a mass noun for the finish itself, the plural signals counting. It can mean different varnishes compared side by side or individual pieces of lacquerware. A cabinetmaker weighing two japans is choosing between finishes, while a shelf of japans holds lacquered objects. Context decides which, much as it separates this form from the verb for coating.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present indicative of japan.

   The factory japans its trays in a deep black finish.

   He japans the old clock case to restore its luster.

   Note

   The verb is spelled exactly like the plural noun, so only the sentence frame tells them apart. A subject before it, as in the factory japans its trays, marks the verb. It is transitive and always takes an object: the thing being coated in hard black varnish. The lowercase j keeps it apart from the country. An old British slang use meaning 'to ordain' is obsolete.

Showing meanings only. Show all 2