PORCELAIN

[por.ce.lain] n [MF porcelaine cowrie shell, porcelain, fr. It porcellana, fr. porcello vulva, lit., little pig, fr. L porcellus, dim. of porcus pig, vulva; fr. the shape of the shell--more at farrow] (ca. 1530): a hard, fine-grained, sonorous, nonporous, and usu. translucent and white ceramic ware that consists essentially of kaolin, quartz, and feldspar and is fired at high temperatures -- por.ce.lain.like adj -- por.ce.la.ne.ous or por.cel.la.ne.ous adj