Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Porcelain \Por"ce*lain\ (277), n. [F. porcelaine, It.
   porcellana, orig., the porcelain shell, or Venus shell
   (Cypr[ae]a porcellana), from a dim. fr. L. porcus pig,
   probably from the resemblance of the shell in shape to a
   pig's back. Porcelain was called after this shell, either on
   account of its smoothness and whiteness, or because it was
   believed to be made from it. See {Pork}.]
   A fine translucent or semitransculent kind of earthenware,
   made first in China and Japan, but now also in Europe and
   America; -- called also {China}, or {China ware}.

         Porcelain, by being pure, is apt to break. --Dryden.

   {Ivory porcelain}, porcelain with a surface like ivory,
      produced by depolishing. See {Depolishing}.

   {Porcelain clay}. See under {Clay}.

   {Porcelain crab} (Zo["o]l.), any crab of the genus
      {Porcellana} and allied genera (family {Porcellanid[ae]}).
      They have a smooth, polished carapace.

   {Porcelain jasper}. (Min.) See {Porcelanite}.

   {Porcelain printing}, the transferring of an impression of an
      engraving to porcelain.

   {Porcelain shell} (Zo["o]l.), a cowry.

China \Chi"na\, n.
   1. A country in Eastern Asia.

   2. China ware, which is the modern popular term for
      porcelain. See {Porcelain}.

   {China aster} (Bot.), a well-known garden flower and plant.
      See {Aster}.

   {China bean}. See under {Bean}, 1.

   {China clay} See {Kaolin}.

   {China grass}, Same as {Ramie}.

   {China ink}. See {India ink}.

   {China pink} (Bot.), an anual or biennial species of
      {Dianthus} ({D. Chiensis}) having variously colored single
      or double flowers; Indian pink.

   {China root} (Med.), the rootstock of a species of {Smilax}
      ({S. China}, from the East Indies; -- formerly much
      esteemed for the purposes that sarsaparilla is now used
      for. Also the galanga root (from {Alpinia Gallanga} and
      {Alpinia officinarum}).

   {China rose}. (Bot.)
      (a) A popular name for several free-blooming varieties of
          rose derived from the {Rosa Indica}, and perhaps other
          species.
      (b) A flowering hothouse plant ({Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis})
          of the Mallow family, common in the gardens of China
          and the east Indies.

   {China shop}, a shop or store for the sale of China ware or
      of crockery.

   {China ware}, porcelain; -- so called in the 17th century
      because brought from the far East, and differing from the
      pottery made in Europe at that time; also, loosely,
      crockery in general.

   {Pride of China}, {China tree}. (Bot.) See {Azedarach}.