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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

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}.
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Porcelain, by being pure, is apt to break. --Dryden.
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{Ivory porcelain}, porcelain with a surface like ivory,
produced by depolishing. See {Depolishing}.

{Porcelain clay}. See under {Clay}.

{Porcelain crab} (Zool.), 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} (Zool.), a cowry.
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China \Chi"na\, n.
1. A country in Eastern Asia.
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2. China ware, which is the modern popular term for
porcelain. See {Porcelain}.
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{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} ({Dianthus Chiensis}) having variously colored
single or double flowers; Indian pink.

{China root} (Med.), the rootstock of a species of {Smilax}
({Smilax 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.

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