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.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A hard black enamel varnish containing asphalt.
My own apartment, however, I was allowed to enter; and very pretty, I must say, it is. It is hung with Indian-silk, where the brightest of birds, and the gayest of flowers, disport themselves on a white ground. The screens and dressing-table are of black japan, while the mirror is set in exquisite silver filigree work, of which material are also the boxes of my toilette. 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Much Change in a Little Time”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 64:
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.
Meanings
(transitive) To varnish (something) with japan.
He fastens his plates by fine srews in any waving or curving lines, and then japans them in all the most varied and beautiful shades. 1847, editorial staff, “Veneering Metal Plates”, in Scientific American, series 1, Volume 3, Issue 9, page 68:
A Zoetrope in the same sale fetched 26 guineas. The revolving drum, 12 inches in diameter, was black japanned, on a turned wooden base, and there were many coloured strips. 1971, Gwen White, Antique Toys And Their Background, page 183:
Piled against the wall were certain boxes of black japanned tin, which had just been sent to him from London. At any other time he would certainly not have left them unopened. For they contained his robes of the Garter. 1911 October 26, Max Beerbohm, Zuleika Dobson, or, An Oxford Love Story, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: John Lane Company, published 1912, →OCLC:
Among other monstrosities in this lumber room was a largeish black japanned box, excellently and ingeniously made some sixty or seventy years ago, and fitted with every imaginable object. 1928, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, chapter XI, in Lady Chatterley’s Lover, [Germany?]: Privately printed, →OCLC, page 241:
(UK, obsolete, slang, transitive) To ordain (someone).
Jack, hearing that I was in this part of the world, sent me a very hearty letter, informing me, that he had been double-japanned (as he called it) about a year ago, and was the present incumbent of — […] 1826, George Colman, The Connoisseur, page 179:
de Japan (to varnish (something) with japan) · ja 日本 (to varnish (something) with japan) · fr japon (to varnish (something) with japan) · ota روغن اورمق (to varnish (something) with japan) · jv jepang (to varnish (something) with japan) · ga seapán (to varnish (something) with japan) · sv japanera (to varnish (something) with japan) · nl japan (to varnish (something) with japan)