noun
Jap
jap
noun
1
A Japanese person.
"Among our Japs on board are two returning from Italy, where they have been with silk-worms' eggs, on cards, to sell. This has become a great speculation, and the Japs are going into it with zeal. The Japs almost always—always when they can—take cabin passages ; the Chinese seldom, or never."
— James Brooks (1872)
2
An Imperial Japanese Army soldier.
"The Japs had been confident that this first and sudden land grab could be accomplished without their becoming involved in a major war, and they were right."
— Frank Capra (1944)
"‘The telegram says “missing”.’ ’Nothing about “presumed drowned”?’ Sorrel asked. ’Nothing.’ ’Then he could easily be a prisoner in the hands of the Japs,’ she persisted."
— Noel Streatfeild (1944)
adj
1
Japanese; of or pertaining to Japan or its people.
"A soldier might grab his rifle and batter his way to the heart of some Jap position. Back home they gave him all sorts of medals but his companions dismissed him as the poor bastard who finally went Asiatic."
— James Albert Michener (1951)
verb
1
slang To carry out a sneak attack upon (something or somebody).
2
(of a liquid) To spatter or splash over a surface.
"[…] the yelp of the girl as the hot water japped her legs. I The big fellow bore me across the kitchen."
— The Bell (1947)
"The oilcloth on the kitchen table / an olive green thing - retro surface / japped with little bits of water / or if you like with bits 'v watter / […]"
— Tom Paulin (2012)
Word Forms
japped past tense, japped past tense, Japs plural, japs singular, japs singular
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Etymology
Clipping of Japanese, attested as a noun since 1872, and adjectivally since 1878. Compare Nip (shortened from Nipponese).
Class of 1872
Jap joined the language around 1872.
See the full Class of 1872 →