Category:Porcelain

Por"ce*lain, n. (bot.)

Defn: purslain. [obs.]

Porcelain Por"ce*lain (277), n. Etym: [f. porcelaine, it. porcellana, orig., The porcelain shell, or venus shell (cypræa 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.]

Defn: 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 (zoöl.), any crab of the genus porcellana and Allied genera (family porcellanidæ). 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 (zoöl.), a cowry.