porcelain
UK[ˈpɔːs(ə)lɪn]US[ˈpɔːrs(ə)lɪn]
n
A hard, white, translucent ceramic material made by firing a pure clay and then often glazing and decorating it.
n
Articles, especially decorative or domestic items, made from this material.
Etymology
The word 'porcelain' entered English in the 16th century from the French 'porcelaine', which referred to the ceramic and also to the cowrie shell due to its smooth, glossy surface. The French term derived from Italian 'porcellana', originally meaning 'cowrie shell'. This Italian word is a diminutive of 'porcella', meaning 'young sow', from 'porca' (sow), itself from Latin 'porcus' (pig). The semantic link is thought to be either the resemblance of the cowrie shell's shape to a pig's back or the smooth, rounded surface of the shell. Thus, the term's journey reflects a chain of metaphorical associations, from pig to shell to fine ceramic, before arriving at its modern abstract meaning denoting a specific, high-quality type of pottery.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword. Its spelling and form were borrowed as a whole from French, with ultimate origins in Italian and Latin.
Examples
The museum has a magnificent collection of 18th-century Chinese porcelain.
She carefully washed the delicate porcelain teacup.
The bathroom fixtures were made of the finest white porcelain.