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Kaolin

3 stages from Chinese to English.

Today it means a fine, white clay mineral used in porcelain, paper, and cosmetics

Where does the word "kaolin" come from? It comes from Chinese Gāolǐng, passing through French before entering English (1727).

1
Stage 1 of 3
Gāolǐng
Chinese · ancient
"'high ridge', a place name and source of porcelain clay"
the name of a hill in Jiangxi province where fine white clay was mined for porcelain
2
Stage 2 of 3
kaolin
French · 1712
"fine white clay used to make porcelain"
transliterated by a Jesuit missionary reporting on Chinese porcelain manufacture
3
Stage 3 of 3
kaolin
English · 1727
"a fine white clay used in porcelain and other products"
borrowed from the French account into English mineralogy
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