Chapter 49

Jacob's ladder. (a) (Bot.) A perennial herb of the genus Polemonium (P. cœruleum), having corymbs of drooping flowers, usually blue. Gray. (b) (Naut.) A rope ladder, with wooden steps, for going aloft. R. H. Dana, Jr. (c) (Naut.) A succession of short cracks in a defective spar. -- Jacob's membrane. See Retina. -- Jacob's staff. (a) A name given to many forms of staff or weapon, especially in the Middle Ages; a pilgrim's staff. [Obs.] Spenser. (b) (Surveying) See under Staff.

Jac`o*bæ"an lil"y (?). [See Jacobean.] (Bot.) A bulbous plant (Amaryllis, or Sprekelia, formosissima) from Mexico. It bears a single, large, deep, red, lilylike flower. [Written also Jacobean.]

{ Ja*co"be*an (?; 277), Ja*co"bi*an (?), } a. [From L. Jacobus James. See 2d Jack.] Of or pertaining to a style of architecture and decoration in the time of James the First, of England. "A Jacobean table." C. L. Eastlake.

Jac"o*bin (?), n. [F. See 2d Jack, Jacobite.]

1. (Eccl. Hist.) A Dominican friar; -- so named because, before the French Revolution, that order had a convent in the Rue St. Jacques, Paris.

2. One of a society of violent agitators in France, during the revolution of 1789, who held secret meetings in the Jacobin convent in the Rue St. Jacques, Paris, and concerted measures to control the proceedings of the National Assembly. Hence: A plotter against an existing government; a turbulent demagogue.

3. (Zoöl.) A fancy pigeon, in which the feathers of the neck form a hood, -- whence the name. The wings and tail are long, and the beak moderately short.

Jac"o*bin, a. Same as Jacobinic.

Jac"o*bine (?), n. A Jacobin.

{ Jac`o*bin"ic (?), Jac`o*bin"ic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to the Jacobins of France; revolutionary; of the nature of, or characterized by, Jacobinism. Burke. -- Jac`o*bin"ic*al*ly, adv.

Jac"o*bin*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. Jacobinisme.] The principles of the Jacobins; violent and factious opposition to legitimate government.

Under this new stimulus, Burn's previous Jacobitism passed towards the opposite, but not very distant, extreme of Jacobinism.

J. C. Shairp.

Jac"o*bin*ize` (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jacobinized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Jacobinizing (?).] [Cf. F. Jacobiniser.] To taint with, or convert to, Jacobinism.

France was not then jacobinized.

Burke.

Jac"o*bite (?), n. [L. Jacobus James: cf. F. Jacobite. See 2d Jack.]

1. (Eng. Hist.) A partisan or adherent of James the Second, after his abdication, or of his descendants, an opposer of the revolution in 1688 in favor of William and Mary. Macaulay.

2. (Eccl.) One of the sect of Syrian Monophysites. The sect is named after Jacob Baradæus, its leader in the sixth century.

Jac"o*bite, a. Of or pertaining to the Jacobites.

{ Jac`o*bit"ic (?), Jac`o*bit"ic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to the Jacobites; characterized by Jacobitism. -- Jac`o*bit"ic*al*ly, adv.

Jac"o*bit*ism` (?), n. The principles of the Jacobites. Mason.

Ja*co"bus (?), n.; pl. Jacobuses (#). [See Jacobite.] An English gold coin, of the value of twenty-five shillings sterling, struck in the reign of James I.

Jac"o*net (?), n. [F. jaconas.] A thin cotton fabric, between cambric and muslin, used for dresses, neckcloths, etc. [Written also jacconet.]

Jac*quard" (?), a. Pertaining to, or invented by, Jacquard, a French mechanician, who died in 1834.

Jacquard apparatus or arrangement, a device applied to looms for weaving figured goods, consisting of mechanism controlled by a chain of variously perforated cards, which cause the warp threads to be lifted in the proper succession for producing the required figure. -- Jacquard card, one of the perforated cards of a Jacquard apparatus. -- Jacquard loom, a loom with Jacquard apparatus.

||Jacque"mi*not (?), n. A half- hardy, deep crimson rose of the ||remontant class; -- so named after General Jacqueminot, of France. || ||Jacque`rie" (?), n. [F.] The name given to a revolt of French ||peasants against the nobles in 1358, the leader assuming the ||contemptuous title, Jacques Bonhomme, given by the nobles to the ||peasantry. Hence, any revolt of peasants. || Jac"tan*cy (jk"tan*s), n. [L. jactantia, fr. jactans, p. pr. of jactare to throw, boast, freq. fr. jacere to throw; cf. F. jactance.] A boasting; a bragging. [Obs.]

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Jac*ta"tion (jk*t"shn), n. [L. jactatio, fr. jactare: af. F. jactation. See Jactancy.] A throwing or tossing of the body; a shaking or agitation. Sir. W. Temple.

Jac"ti*ta"tion (?), n. [L. jactitare to utter in public, from jactare. See Jactancy.]

1. (Law) Vain boasting or assertions repeated to the prejudice of another's right; false claim. Mozley & W.

2. (Med.) A frequent tossing or moving of the body; restlessness, as in delirium. Dunglison.

Jactitation of marriage (Eng. Eccl. Law), a giving out or boasting by a party that he or she is married to another, whereby a common reputation of their matrimony may ensue. Blackstone.

Jac"u*la*ble (?), a. Fit for throwing. [Obs.]

Jac"u*late (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jaculated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Jaculating.] [L. jaculatus, p. p. of jaculari. See Ejaculate.] To throw or cast, as a dart; to throw out; to emit.

Jac`u*la"tion (?), n. [L. jaculatio.] The act of tossing, throwing, or hurling, as spears.

Hurled to and fro with jaculation dire.

Milton.

Jac"u*la`tor (?), [L.] 1. One who throws or casts. [R.]

2. (Zoöl.) The archer fish (Toxotes jaculator).

Jac"u*la*to*ry (?), a. [L. jaculatorius: cf. F. jaculatoire.] Darting or throwing out suddenly; also, suddenly thrown out; uttered in short sentences; ejaculatory; as, jaculatory prayers. Smart.

Jad"ding (?), n. (Mining) See Holing.

Jade (?), n. [F., fr. Sp. jade, fr. piedra de ijada stone of the side, fr. ijada flank, side, pain in the side, the stone being so named because it was supposed to cure this pain. Sp. ijada is derived fr. L. ilia flanks. Cf. Iliac.] (Min.) A stone, commonly of a pale to dark green color but sometimes whitish. It is very hard and compact, capable of fine polish, and is used for ornamental purposes and for implements, esp. in Eastern countries and among many early peoples.

The general term jade includes nephrite, a compact variety of tremolite with a specific gravity of 3, and also the mineral jadeite, a silicate of alumina and soda, with a specific gravity of 3.3. The latter is the more highly prized and includes the feitsui of the Chinese. The name has also been given to other tough green minerals capable of similar use.

Jade, n. [OE. jade; cf. Prov. E. yaud, Scot. yade, yad, yaud, Icel. jalda a mare.]

1. A mean or tired horse; a worthless nag. Chaucer.

Tired as a jade in overloaden cart.

Sir P. Sidney.

2. A disreputable or vicious woman; a wench; a quean; also, sometimes, a worthless man. Shak.

She shines the first of battered jades.

Swift.

3. A young woman; -- generally so called in irony or slight contempt.

A souple jade she was, and strang.

Burns.

Jade, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Jading.]

1. To treat like a jade; to spurn. [Obs.] Shak.

2. To make ridiculous and contemptible. [Obs.]

I do now fool myself, to let imagination jade me.

Shak.

3. To exhaust by overdriving or long- continued labor of any kind; to tire or wear out by severe or tedious tasks; to harass.

The mind, once jaded by an attempt above its power, . . . checks at any vigorous undertaking ever after.

Locke.

Syn. -- To fatigue; tire; weary; harass. -- To Jade, Fatigue, Tire, Weary. Fatigue is the generic term; tire denotes fatigue which wastes the strength; weary implies that a person is worn out by exertion; jade refers to the weariness created by a long and steady repetition of the same act or effort. A little exertion will tire a child or a weak person; a severe or protracted task wearies equally the body and the mind; the most powerful horse becomes jaded on a long journey by a continual straining of the same muscles. Wearied with labor of body or mind; tired of work, tired out by importunities; jaded by incessant attention to business.

Jade, v. i. To become weary; to lose spirit.

They . . . fail, and jade, and tire in the prosecution.

South.

Jade"ite (?), n. (Min.) See Jade, the stone.

Jad"er*y (?), n. The tricks of a jade.

Jad"ish, a. 1. Vicious; ill-tempered; resembling a jade; -- applied to a horse.

2. Unchaste; -- applied to a woman. L'Estrange.

||Jae"ger (?), n. See Jager. || Jag (?), n. [Prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. gag aperture, cleft, chink; akin to Ir. & Gael. gag.] [Written also jagg.]

1. A notch; a cleft; a barb; a ragged or sharp protuberance; a denticulation.

Arethuss arose . . . From rock and from jag.

Shelley.

Garments thus beset with long jags.

Holland.

2. A part broken off; a fragment. Bp. Hacket.

3. (Bot.) A cleft or division.

Jag bolt, a bolt with a nicked or barbed shank which resists retraction, as when leaded into stone.

Jag, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jagged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Jagging (?).] To cut into notches or teeth like those of a saw; to notch. [Written also jagg.]

Jagging iron, a wheel with a zigzag or jagged edge for cutting cakes or pastry into ornamental figures.

Jag, n. [Scot. jag, jaug, a leather bag or wallet, a pocket. Cf. Jag a notch.] A small load, as of hay or grain in the straw, or of ore. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.] [Written also jagg.] Forby.

Jag, v. t. To carry, as a load; as, to jag hay, etc. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]

{ ||Jag`a*nat"ha (?), ||Jag`a*nat"ha (?), } n. See Juggernaut.

Ja"ger (?), n. [G. jäger a hunter, a sportsman. Cf. Yager.] [Written also jaeger.] 1. (Mil.) A sharpshooter. See Yager.

2. (Zoöl.) Any species of gull of the genus Stercorarius. Three species occur on the Atlantic coast. The jagers pursue other species of gulls and force them to disgorge their prey. The two middle tail feathers are usually decidedly longer than the rest. Called also boatswain, and marline-spike bird. The name is also applied to the skua, or Arctic gull (Megalestris skua).

Jagg (?), v. t. & n. See Jag.

Jag"ged (jg"gd), a. Having jags; having rough, sharp notches, protuberances, or teeth; cleft; laciniate; divided; as, jagged rocks. " Jagged vine leaves' shade." Trench. -- Jag"ged*ly, adv. -- Jag"ged*ness, n.

Jag"ger (jg"gr), n. One who carries about a small load; a peddler. See 2d Jag. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

Jag"ger, n. [From 4th Jag.] One who, or that which, jags; specifically: (a) jagging iron used for crimping pies, cakes, etc. (b) A toothed chisel. See Jag, v. t.

Jagger spring, a spring beneath a seat, and resting on cleats or blocks in the body of a vehicle. Knight.

Jag"ger*y (?), n. [Hind jgr. Cf. Sugar.] Raw palm sugar, made in the East Indies by evaporating the fresh juice of several kinds of palm trees, but specifically that of the palmyra (Borassus flabelliformis). [Written also jagghery.]

Jag"gy (?), a. Having jags; set with teeth; notched; uneven; as, jaggy teeth. Addison.

||Ja"ghir (?), n. [Per. jgr.] A village or district the government and ||revenues of which are assigned to some person, usually in ||consideration of some service to be rendered, esp. the maintenance of ||troops. [Written also jaghire, jagir, etc.] [India] Whitworth. || ||Ja"ghir*dar` (?), n. [Per. jgr-dr.] The holder of a jaghir. || Ja"gua palm` (?). [Sp. jagua the fruit of the jagua palm.] (Bot.) A great Brazilian palm (Maximiliana regia), having immense spathes which are used for baskets and tubs.

Ja*guar" (?), n. [Braz. yagoára: cf. & Pg. jaguar.] (Zoöl.) A large and powerful feline animal (Felis onca), ranging from Texas and Mexico to Patagonia. It is usually brownish yellow, with large, dark, somewhat angular rings, each generally inclosing one or two dark spots. It is chiefly arboreal in its habits. Called also the American tiger.

||Ja`gua*ron"di (?), n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.) A South American wild ||cat (Felis jaguarondi), having a long, slim body and very short legs. ||Its color is grayish brown, varied with a blackish hue. It is ||arboreal in its habits and feeds mostly on birds. || Jah (jä), n. [Heb. yh.] Jehovah. Ps. lxviii. 4.

Jail (?), n. [OE. jaile, gail, gayhol, OF. gaole, gaiole, jaiole, F. geôle, LL. gabiola, dim. of gabia cage, for L. cavea cavity, cage. See Cage.] A kind of prison; a building for the confinement of persons held in lawful custody, especially for minor offenses or with reference to some future judicial proceeding. [Written also gaol.]

This jail I count the house of liberty.

Milton.

Jail bird, a prisoner; one who has been confined in prison. [Slang] -- Jail delivery, the release of prisoners from jail, either legally or by violence. -- Jail delivery commission. See under Gaol. -- Jail fever (Med.), typhus fever, or a disease resembling it, generated in jails and other places crowded with people; -- called also hospital fever, and ship fever. -- Jail liberties, or Jail limits, a space or district around a jail within which an imprisoned debtor was, on certain conditions, allowed to go at large. Abbott. -- Jail lock, a peculiar form of padlock; -- called also Scandinavian lock.

Jail, v. t. To imprison. [R.] T. Adams (1614).

[Bolts] that jail you from free life.

Tennyson.

Jail"er (?), n. [OE. jailer, gailer, OF. geolier, F. geôlier. See Jail.] The keeper of a jail or prison. [Written also jailor, gaoler.]

{ Jain (?), Jai"na, } n. [Skr. Jaina, fr. Jina, a proper name, fr. jina victorious.] One of a numerous sect in British India, holding the tenets of Jainism.

Jain"ism (?), n. The heterodox Hindoo religion, of which the most striking features are the exaltation of saints or holy mortals, called jins, above the ordinary Hindoo gods, and the denial of the divine origin and infallibility of the Vedas. It is intermediate between Brahmanism and Buddhism, having some things in common with each.

||Jai*rou" (?), n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.) The ahu or Asiatic gazelle. || Jak (?), n. (Bot.) see 1st Jack.

Jakes (?), n. [Prob. fr. F. Jacques, the proper name. See 2d Jack.] A privy. Shak.

Ja"kie (?), n. (Zoöl.) A South American striped frog (Pseudis paradoxa), remarkable for having a tadpole larger than the adult, and hence called also paradoxical frog.

Jak"o (jk"), n. (Zoöl.) An African parrot (Psittacus erithacus), very commonly kept as a cage bird; -- called also gray parrot.

Jak"wood` (?), n. See Jackwood.

Jal"ap (?), n. [F., fr. Sp. jalapa; -- so called from Jalapa, a town in Mexico, whence it was first obtained.] (Med.) The tubers of the Mexican plant Ipomœa purga (or Exogonium purga), a climber much like the morning-glory. The abstract, extract, and powder, prepared from the tubers, are well known purgative medicines. Other species of Ipomœa yield several inferior kinds of jalap, as the I. Orizabensis, and I. tuberosa.

False jalap, the root of Mirabilis Jalapa, four-o'clock, or marvel of Peru.

Ja*lap"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to jalap.

Jal"a*pin (?), n. (Chem.) A glucoside found in the stems of the jalap plant and scammony. It is a strong purgative.

||Ja`lons", n. pl. [F. Of unknown origin.] (Mil.) Long poles, topped ||with wisps of straw, used as landmarks and signals. Farrow. || ||Ja`lou`sie", n. [F. See Jealousy.] A Venetian or slatted inside ||window blind. || Ja`lou`sied" (?), a. Furnished with jalousies; as, jalousied porches.

Jam (?), n. [Per. or Hind. jmah garment, robe.] A kind of frock for children.

Jam, n. (Mining) See Jamb.

Jam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jammed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Jamming.] [Either fr. jamb, as if squeezed between jambs, or more likely from the same source as champ See Champ.]

1. To press into a close or tight position; to crowd; to squeeze; to wedge in.

The . . . jammed in between two rocks.

De Foe.

2. To crush or bruise; as, to jam a finger in the crack of a door. [Colloq.]

3. (Naut.) To bring (a vessel) so close to the wind that half her upper sails are laid aback. W. C. Russell.

Jam, n. 1. A mass of people or objects crowded together; also, the pressure from a crowd; a crush; as, a jam in a street; a jam of logs in a river.

2. An injury caused by jamming. [Colloq.]

Jam, n. [Prob. fr. jam, v.; but cf. also Ar. jamad ice, jelly, jmid congealed, jamd congelation, ice.] A preserve of fruit boiled with sugar and water; as, raspberry jam; currant jam; grape jam.

Jam nut. See Check nut, under Check. -- Jam weld (Forging), a butt weld. See under Butt.

||Jam`a*ci"na (?), n. [NL.] Jamaicine. || ||Jam"a*dar (?), n. Same as Jemidar. || Ja*mai"ca (?), n. One of the West India islands.

Jamaica ginger, a variety of ginger, called also white ginger, prepared in Jamaica from the best roots, which are deprived of their epidermis and dried separately. -- Jamaica pepper, allspice. -- Jamaica rose (Bot.), a West Indian melastomaceous shrub (Blakea trinervis), with showy pink flowers.

Ja*mai"can (?), a. Of or pertaining to Jamaica. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Jamaica.

Ja*ma"i*cine (?), n. [From Jamaica.] (Chem.) An alkaloid said to be contained in the bark of Geoffroya inermis, a leguminous tree growing in Jamaica and Surinam; -- called also jamacina. Watts.

Jamb (?), n. [Prov. E. jaumb, jaum, F. jambe a leg, jambe de force a principal rafter. See Gambol.]

1. (Arch) The vertical side of any opening, as a door or fireplace; hence, less properly, any narrow vertical surface of wall, as the of a chimney-breast or of a pier, as distinguished from its face. Gwilt.

2. (Mining) Any thick mass of rock which prevents miners from following the lode or vein.

Jamb (?), v. t. See Jam, v. t.

Jam*bee" (?), n. [See Jamb, n.: cf. OF. jamboier to walk.] A fashionable cane. [Obs.] Tatler.

{ Jambes (?), Jam"beux (?), } n. pl. [From F. jambe a leg: cf. OF. jambiere. See Jamb, n.] (Ancient Armor) In the Middle Ages, armor for the legs below the knees. [Written also giambeux.] Chaucer.

||Jam`bo*la"na (?), n. [Cf. Pg. jambolão a kind of tropical fruit.] ||(Bot.) A myrtaceous tree of the West Indies and tropical America ||(Calyptranthes Jambolana), with astringent bark, used for dyeing. It ||bears an edible fruit. || ||Jam"da*ni (?), n. A silk fabric, with a woven pattern of sprigs of ||flowers. [Written also jamdanee.] Balfour (Cyc. of India). || Ja"me*son*ite (?), n. [From Prof. Jameson, of Edinburgh.] (Min.) A steel-gray mineral, of metallic luster, commonly fibrous massive. It is a sulphide of antimony and lead, with a little iron.

James"'s pow`der (?). (Med.) Antimonial powder, first prepared by Dr. James, an English physician; -- called also fever powder.

James"town` weed` (?). (Bot.) The poisonous thorn apple or stramonium (Datura stramonium), a rank weed early noticed at Jamestown, Virginia. See Datura.

This name is often corrupted into jimson, jimpson, and gympsum.

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Jan (jn), n. [Ar.] (Moham. Myth.) One of an intermediate order between angels and men.

Jane (jn), n. [LL. Janua Genoa; L. Genua, also OE. Jean.] 1. A coin of Genoa; any small coin. Chaucer.

2. A kind of twilled cotton cloth. See Jean.

Jane"-of-apes" (?), n. A silly, pert girl; -- corresponding to jackanapes. Massinger.

Jan"gle (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Jangled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Jangling (?).] [OE. janglen to quarrel, OF. jangler to rail, quarrel; of Dutch or German origin; cf. D. jangelen, janken, to whimper, chide, brawl, quarrel.]

1. To sound harshly or discordantly, as bells out of tune.

2. To talk idly; to prate; to babble; to chatter; to gossip. "Thou janglest as a jay." Chaucer.

3. To quarrel in words; to altercate; to wrangle.

Good wits will be jangling; but, gentles, agree.

Shak.

Prussian Trenck . . . jargons and jangles in an unmelodious manner.

Carlyle.

Jan"gle, v. t. To cause to sound harshly or inharmoniously; to produce discordant sounds with.

Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune, and harsh.

Shak.

Jan"gle, n. [Cf. OF. jangle.]

1. Idle talk; prate; chatter; babble. Chaucer.

2. Discordant sound; wrangling.

The musical jangle of sleigh bells.

Longfellow.

Jan"gler (?), n. [Cf. OF. jangleor.]

1. An idle talker; a babbler; a prater. Chaucer.

2. A wrangling, noisy fellow.

Jan"gler*ess, n. A female prater or babbler.

Jan"gler*y, n. [Cf. OF. janglerie chattering, talk.] Jangling. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Jan"gling (?), a. Producing discordant sounds. "A jangling noise." Milton.

Jan"gling, n. 1. Idle babbling; vain disputation.

From which some, having swerved, have turned aside unto vain jangling.

1 Tim. i. 6.

2. Wrangling; altercation. Lamb.

Jan"is*sa*ry (?), n. See Janizary.

Jan"i*tor (?), n. [L., fr. janua a door.] A door-keeper; a porter; one who has the care of a public building, or a building occupied for offices, suites of rooms, etc.

{ Jan"i*tress (?), Jan"i*trix (?), } n. [L. janitrix. See Janitor.] A female janitor.

Jan"i*zar` (?), n. A janizary. [R.] Byron.

Jan`i*za"ri*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to the janizaries, or their government. Burke.

Jan"i*za*ry (?), n.; pl. Janizaries (#). [F. janissaire, fr. Turk. ye&?;i-tsheri new soldiers or troops.] A soldier of a privileged military class, which formed the nucleus of the Turkish infantry, but was suppressed in 1826. [written also janissary.]

Jan"ker (?), n. A long pole on two wheels, used in hauling logs. [Scot.] Jamieson.

Jan"sen*ism (?), n. [F. Jansénisme.] (Eccl. Hist.) The doctrine of Jansen regarding free will and divine grace.

Jan"sen*ist, n. [F. Janséniste.] (Eccl. Hist.) A follower of Cornelius Jansen, a Roman Catholic bishop of Ypres, in Flanders, in the 17th century, who taught certain doctrines denying free will and the possibility of resisting divine grace.

Jant (?), v. i. See Jaunt.

||Jan"thi*na (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Ianthina. || Jan"ti*ly (?), adv. See Jauntily.

Jan"ti*ness, n. See Jauntiness.

||Jan"tu (?) n. A machine of great antiquity, used in Bengal for ||raising water to irrigate land. Knight. || Jan"ty (?), a. See Jaunty.

Jan"u*a*ry (?), n. [L. Januarius, fr. Janus an old Latin deity, the god of the sun and the year, to whom the month of January was sacred; cf. janua a door, Skr. y to go.] The first month of the year, containing thirty-one days.

Before the adoption of New Style, the commencement of the year was usually reckoned from March 25.

Ja"nus (?), n. [L. See January.] (Rom. Antiq.) A Latin deity represented with two faces looking in opposite directions. Numa is said to have dedicated to Janus the covered passage at Rome, near the Forum, which is usually called the Temple of Janus. This passage was open in war and closed in peace. Dr. W. Smith.

Janus cloth, a fabric having both sides dressed, the sides being of different colors, -- used for reversible garments.

Ja"nus-faced` (?), a. Double- faced; deceitful.

Janus-faced lock, one having duplicate faces so as to go upon a right or a left hand door, the key entering on either side indifferently. Knight.

Ja"nus-head`ed (?), a. Double- headed.

Ja*pan" (j*pn"), n. [From Japan, the country.] Work varnished and figured in the Japanese manner; also, the varnish or lacquer used in japanning.

Ja*pan", a. Of or pertaining to Japan, or to the lacquered work of that country; as, Japan ware.

Japan allspice (Bot.), a spiny shrub from Japan (Chimonanthus fragrans), related to the Carolina allspice. -- Japan black (Chem.), a quickly drying black lacquer or varnish, consisting essentially of asphaltum dissolved in naphtha or turpentine, and used for coating ironwork; -- called also Brunswick black, Japan lacquer, or simply Japan. -- Japan camphor, ordinary camphor brought from China or Japan, as distinguished from the rare variety called borneol or Borneo camphor. -- Japan clover, or Japan pea (Bot.), a cloverlike plant (Lespedeza striata) from Eastern Asia, useful for fodder, first noticed in the Southern United States about 1860, but now become very common. During the Civil War it was called variously Yankee clover and Rebel clover. -- Japan earth. See Catechu. -- Japan ink, a kind of writing ink, of a deep, glossy black when dry. -- Japan varnish, a varnish prepared from the milky juice of the Rhus vernix, a small Japanese tree related to the poison sumac.