WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Por"ce*lain
Part of Speech : n.
Definition : Defn: Purslain. [Obs.]

(Bot.)
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Por"ce*lain (277)
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [F. porcelaine, It. porcellana, orig., the porcelain shell, or Venus shell (Cypr?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
Definition : 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 (Zo?l.), any crab of the genus Porcellana and allied genera (family Porcellanid?). 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 (Zo?l.), a cowry.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913