Jap, n.
Colloquial abbreviation of Japanese. Also as adj.; spec. Jap silk = Habutai.
As n. and adj. the word Jap has strong derogatory connotations and is now falling into disuse.
| c 1880 (Remembered in colloquial use in London.) 1890 Lit. World 11 July 23 The fearlessness of death, which makes a Jap submit to the loss of his own life rather than to permit the death of a father to go unavenged. 1893 Athenæum 20 May 639/3 Directly a good demand arises for a book, the Japs print for themselves. 1895 Montgomery Ward Catal. 37/3 Ladies' short silk waists, made of plain colored Habutai Jap silk. 1896 Westm. Gaz. 3 Nov. 6/3 Fifty years ago it was only a few gardeners..who grew chrysanthemums, and..only about twelve distinct varieties of ‘Japs’ were to be found. 1900 in American Mail Order Fashions (1961) 18 Jap braid edge. 1902 To-Day 14 May 95/1 Printed Jap silks are lovely. 1914 Dialect Notes IV. 136 This is a Jap Kimona. 1921 [see Chow n. 1]. 1936 Times 3 Jan. 10/3 The most jealously limited edition of an unacted Swinburne drama, 50 copies only on jap vellum. 1940 [see Dago, dago 1]. 1944 Living off Land viii. 156 The Jap pearlers have landed on his coasts. 1951 Good Housek. Home Encycl. 251/2 Many attractive natural silk fabrics..jap and spun silks and ninons. 1959 [see Jew n. 3 a]. 1970 G. F. Newman Sir, You Bastard viii. 211 Nice little tape-recorder... Snazzy Jap job. |