porcelain

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 ]