porc

n. (Bot.) Purslain. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ 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. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Porcelain, by being pure, is apt to break. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 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 (Zool.), a cowry. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Geol.) Baked like potter's lay; -- applied to clay shales that have been converted by heat into a substance resembling porcelain. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. porcelanite. ] (Min.) A semivitrified clay or shale, somewhat resembling jasper; -- called also porcelain jasper. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. 1. Of or pertaining to porcelain; resembling porcelain; as, porcelaneous shells. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Having a smooth, compact shell without pores; -- said of certain Foraminifera. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Porcelaneous. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. porche, L. porticus, fr. porta a gate, entrance, or passage. See Port a gate, and cf. Portico. ] 1. (Arch.) A covered and inclosed entrance to a building, whether taken from the interior, and forming a sort of vestibule within the main wall, or projecting without and with a separate roof. Sometimes the porch is large enough to serve as a covered walk. See also Carriage porch, under Carriage, and Loggia. [ 1913 Webster ]

The graceless Helen in the porch I spied
Of Vesta's temple. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A portico; a covered walk. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find find us. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Porch, a public portico, or great hall, in Athens, where Zeno, the philosopher, taught his disciples; hence, sometimes used as equivalent to the school of the Stoics. It was called "h poiki`lh stoa`. [See Poicile.] [1913 Webster]

a. [ L. porcinus, from porcus a swine. See Pork. ] Of or pertaining to swine; characteristic of the hog. “Porcine cheeks.” G. Eliot. [ 1913 Webster ]